Food Shelf Life Guide

Organized pantry, refrigerator and freezer.

Some food lets you know when it's done. The lettuce turns into a science experiment. The milk announces itself the second you unscrew the cap. But what about the rest? The chicken you bought Saturday. The opened jar of salsa in the door. The leftover lasagna that's been in there since... was it Sunday? Or last Sunday?

This guide answers the question every family asks, usually while standing in front of an open refrigerator: is this still good? Here's how long food really lasts in the fridge, freezer and pantry, based on USDA guidelines. Print it, tape it inside a cabinet door, and stop playing leftover roulette.

A Few Ground Rules

  • Keep your fridge at 40°F or below and your freezer at 0°F. These times assume you do. A warm fridge cuts them short.
  • Fridge times are about safety. Freezer times are about quality. Food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe indefinitely. It just gets dry and loses flavor over time.
  • Pantry times are mostly about quality, too. Stale crackers won't hurt you. They're just sad.
  • The sniff test isn't a safety test. The bacteria that cause food poisoning usually don't change how food looks or smells. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Package dates are usually about quality, not safety. Here's what "best by," "use by" and "sell by" really mean.

How Long Meat, Poultry and Seafood Las

Food

Raw chicken or turkey (pieces)

Raw whole chicken or turkey

Raw ground beef, turkey, pork

Raw steaks, chops and roasts

Raw fish (lean, like cod or tilapia)

Raw fish (fatty, like salmon)

Raw shrimp and shellfish

Bacon

Hot dogs


Deli and lunch meat


Fully cooked ham

Fridge

1 to 2 days

1 to 2 days

1 to 2 days

3 to 5 days

1 to 2 days

1 to 2 days

1 to 2 days

1 week

2 weeks unopened; 1 week opened

2 weeks unopened; 3 to 5 days opened or sliced at the deli

1 week whole; 3 to 4 days sliced

Freezer

9 months

1 year

3 to 4 months

4 to 12 months

6 to 8 months

2 to 3 months

3 to 6 months

1 month

1 to 2 months


1 to 2 months


1 to 2 months

Raw chicken has the shortest fridge life of almost anything you buy. If you're not cooking it within two days, freeze it the day you bring it home.

How Long Leftovers Last

Packaged foods inside freezer.

The short answer: 3 to 4 days for most leftovers. Date them with masking tape and a marker so you're not guessing. Reheat leftovers to 165°F.

Food

Cooked chicken, turkey, beef or pork

Soups, stews and chili

Casseroles and lasagna

Pizza

Cooked rice and pasta

Cooked vegetables

Hard-boiled eggs

Pies with fruit filling

Pumpkin, custard and cream pies

Fridge

3 to 4 days

3 to 4 days

3 to 4 days

3 to 4 days

3 to 5 days

3 to 4 days

1 week

2 to 4 days

3 to 4 days

Freezer

2 to 4 months

2 to 3 months

2 to 3 months

1 to 2 months

1 to 2 months

2 to 3 months

Don't freeze

6 to 8 months

Pumpkin 1 to 2 months; don't freeze cream pies

Leftover Thanksgiving turkey falls under the same 3-to-4-day rule. If you won't get through it by Monday, freeze it in meal-size portions on Saturday.

How Long Eggs and Dairy Last

Eggs inside refrigerator door.

Food

Raw eggs in the shell


Milk

Yogurt

Sour cream

Cream cheese

Butter

Hard cheese (cheddar, Parmesan)

Soft cheese (brie, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, cottage)

Fridge

3 to 5 weeks


7 days after opening

1 to 2 weeks

1 to 3 weeks

2 weeks after opening

1 to 3 months

6 months unopened; 3 to 4 weeks opened

1 week after opening

Freezer

Don't freeze in the shell; beaten eggs, 1 year

3 months (for cooking; texture changes)

1 to 2 months

not recommended

not recommended

6 to 9 months

6 months (best shredded and used for cooking)

Not recommended

One more thing about eggs: the egg tray in the fridge door is the warmest spot in the refrigerator. Keep eggs in their carton on a middle shelf, where they'll last longer. (Yes, the photo shows them in the door. Do as I say, not as the stock photographer does.)

How Long Condiments Last After Opening

Opened, in the fridge

Mayonnaise

Ketchup

Mustard

Jarred salsa

Jarred pasta and tomato sauce

Salad dressing

Jam and jelly

Maple syrup (real)

Opened wine

How long

2 months

6 months

1 year

1 month

5 days

1 to 3 months

6 months

1 year

3 to 5 days, recorked (after that it's flat and sour, not dangerous)

How Long Pantry Staples Last

Organized pantry supplies on shelf.

Food

Bread

All-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour

White rice

Brown rice

Dried pasta

Breakfast cereal

Peanut butter

Cooking oil


Canned tomatoes, fruit and other high-acid foods

Canned vegetables, beans, soup and tuna

Ground spices

Sugar, honey, salt and vinegar

Soda

Pantry

3 to 5 days (freeze for up to 3 months)

6 to 12 months

1 to 3 months (or 6 months in the fridge or freezer)

2 years

6 months (its oils go rancid)

1 to 2 years

6 to 12 months unopened; a few months opened

6 to 9 months unopened; 2 to 3 months opened

About 6 months after opening (toss it if it smells like crayons)


12 to 18 months


2 to 5 years

2 to 3 years for best flavor

Indefinitely

9 months unopened (diet soda, 3 months); 2 to 3 days opened, in the fridge

Throw out any can that's bulging, leaking, rusted or deeply dented, especially along the seam. And if you find tiny bugs or webbing in your flour or cereal, toss it and wipe the shelf. Pantry moths love an open bag. Here are more kitchen food storage tips.

How Long Frozen Food Lasts

Food

Store-bought frozen vegetables

Frozen fruit

Bread, bagels and muffins

Frozen dinners and pizza

Ice cream

Cookie dough

Freezer

8 to 12 months

8 to 12 months

2 to 3 months

3 to 4 months

2 to 3 months for best texture

2 to 3 months

Write the date on everything that goes in the freezer. You think you'll remember. You won't. For how to wrap food so it doesn't get freezer burn, and how to thaw it safely, see my frozen food storage tips.

How to Tell When Food Has Gone Bad

Toss food that has:

  • Mold you can see. You can cut mold off hard cheese, carrots and other firm foods (cut an inch around and below it). Throw out soft foods with mold, like bread, berries, yogurt and soft cheese, because the mold spreads below the surface.
  • A sour, sulfur or off smell.
  • A slimy or sticky surface on meat, deli meat or cooked food.
  • A bulging, leaking or hissing container.
  • Been in the fridge longer than the chart says, even if it looks fine.

Remember: the bacteria that make you sick usually don't change how food looks or smells. If it's past its time, don't taste it to check. For more on preventing food poisoning, see Food Safety at Home.

How Long Does Food Last: Quick Answers

How long is raw chicken good in the fridge?

1 to 2 days. If you won't cook it by then, freeze it. Frozen chicken pieces keep their best quality for about 9 months.

How long do leftovers last in the fridge?

3 to 4 days for most cooked food, including meat, soups, casseroles and pizza. Freeze anything you won't eat by then.

How long do eggs last in the fridge?

3 to 5 weeks from the day you buy them, stored in the carton on a shelf, not in the door. Hard-boiled eggs last about a week.

How long does milk last after opening?

About 7 days, as long as your fridge is at 40°F or below. Keep it on a shelf, not in the door.

Is frozen food safe forever?

Yes, if it's kept frozen at 0°F. Freezer storage times are about quality. Food frozen too long gets dry, freezer-burned and bland, but it won't make you sick.

Is food safe after the "best by" date?

Usually, yes. "Best by" and "use by" dates are about quality, not safety, except on infant formula. Follow the storage times in this guide and toss anything that looks or smells off.

Keep Going

Keep your food fresh and your family healthy with these related guides:






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