Eggs
|
Fresh, in shell
|
3
to 5 weeks
|
Do
not freeze
|
Raw yolks and
whites
|
2
to 4 days
|
1
year
|
Hard cooked
|
1
week
|
Doesn't
freeze well
|
Liquid
pasteurized eggs, egg substitutes
|
opened
|
3
days
|
Doesn't
freeze well
|
unopened
|
10
days
|
1
year
|
Mayonnaise
|
Commercial,
refrigerate after opening |
2
months |
Do
not freeze |
Frozen
Dinners and Entrees
|
Keep frozen
until ready to heat |
--
|
3
to 4 months |
Deli and
Vacuum-Packed Products
|
Store-prepared
(or homemade) egg, chicken, ham, tuna, and macaroni salads
|
3
to 5 days
|
Doesn't
freeze well
|
Hot
dogs and Luncheon Meats
|
Hot
dogs
|
opened
package
|
1
week
|
1
to 2 months
|
unopened
package
|
2
weeks
|
1
to 2 months
|
Luncheon
meat
|
opened
package
|
3
to 5 days
|
1
to 2 months
|
unopened
package
|
2
weeks
|
1
to 2 months
|
Bacon
and Sausage
|
Bacon
|
7
days
|
1
month
|
Sausage, raw --
from chicken, turkey, pork, beef
|
1
to 2 days
|
1
to 2 months
|
Smoked
breakfast links, patties
|
7
days
|
1
to 2 months
|
Hard sausage --
pepperoni, jerky sticks
|
2
to 3 weeks
|
1
to 2 months
|
Summer sausage
-- labeled "Keep Refrigerated"
|
opened
|
3
weeks
|
1
to 2 months
|
unopened
|
3
months
|
1
to 2 months
|
Ham,
Corned Beef |
|
|
Corned beef, in
pouch with pickling juices
|
5
to 7 days
|
Drained,
1 month
|
Ham, canned --
labeled "Keep Refrigerated"
|
opened
|
3
to 5 days
|
1
to 2 months
|
unopened
|
6
to 9 months
|
Do
not freeze
|
Ham, fully
cooked
vacuum sealed at plant, undated, unopened
|
2
weeks
|
1
to 2 months
|
Ham, fully
cooked
vacuum sealed at plant, dated, unopened
|
"Use-By"
date on package
|
1
to 2 months
|
Ham, fully
cooked
|
whole
|
7
days
|
1
to 2 months
|
half
|
3
to 5 days
|
1
to 2 months
|
slices
|
3
to 4 days
|
1
to 2 months
|
Hamburger,
Ground and Stew Meat
|
Hamburger and
stew meat
|
1
to 2 days
|
3
to 4 months
|
Ground turkey,
veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them
|
1
to 2 days
|
3
to 4 months
|
Fresh Beef,
Veal, Lamb, Pork
|
Steaks
|
3
to 5 days
|
6
to 12 months
|
Chops
|
3
to 5 days
|
4
to 6 months
|
Roasts
|
3
to 5 days
|
4
to 12 months
|
Variety meats
-- tongue, liver, heart, kidneys, chitterlings
|
1
to 2 days
|
3
to 4 months
|
Pre-stuffed,
uncooked pork chops, lamb chops, or chicken breasts stuffed with
dressing
|
1
day
|
Doesn't
freeze well
|
Soups
and Stews
|
Vegetable or
meat added |
3
to 4 days |
2
to 3 months |
Cooked Meat
Leftovers
|
Cooked meat and
meat casseroles
|
3
to 4 days
|
2
to 3 months
|
Gravy and meat
broth
|
1
to 2 days
|
2
to 3 months
|
Fresh
Poultry
|
Chicken or
turkey, whole
|
1
to 2 days
|
1
year
|
Chicken or
turkey, pieces
|
1
to 2 days
|
9
months
|
Giblets
|
1
to 2 days
|
3
to 4 months
|
Cooked
Poultry Leftovers
|
|
|
Fried chicken
|
3
to 4 days
|
4
months
|
Cooked poultry
casseroles
|
3
to 4 days
|
4
to 6 months
|
Pieces, plain
|
3
to 4 days
|
4
months
|
Pieces covered
with broth, gravy
|
1
to 2 days
|
6
months
|
Chicken
nuggets, patties
|
1
to 2 days
|
1
to 3 months
|
Fish
and Seafood |
Lean fish such
as Cod, Flounder, Haddock or Halibut
|
36
hours
|
6
to 8 months
|
Less lean
fish like Mullet, smelt and Salmon should be purchase
frozen - never freeze these products when bought fresh -
cook immediately |
36
hours |
4
months |
Shrimp |
4
days |
9
months |
Crab in the
shell |
5
days |
4
to 6 months |
King crab |
7
days |
12
months |
Oysters and
Clams |
4
to 7 days |
NEVER
freeze |
Live Lobster |
1
to 2 days |
NEVER
freeze |
Frozen
Breaded Shrimp |
-
- |
12
months |
Scallops |
-
- |
16
months |
Fish Sticks
and Portions |
-
- |
18
months |
Smoked Fish
like Herring |
3
to 4 days |
-
- |
Smoked Salmon
and Whitefish |
5
to 8 days |
-
- |
Dairy
Products |
|
|
Butter |
1
to 3 months |
6
to 9 months |
Buttermilk |
3
to 14 days |
3
months |
Hard Cheese
such as Cheddar or Swiss unopened |
6
months |
6
months |
Hard Cheese
opened |
3
to 4 weeks |
6
months |
Soft Cheese
(such as Brie or Bel Paese) |
1
week |
6
months |
Cottage
Cheese and Ricotta |
1
week |
NEVER
freeze |
Cream Cheese |
2
weeks |
NEVER
freeze |
Ultra
Pasteurized whipped cream |
1
month |
NEVER
freeze |
Sweetened
whipped cream |
1
day |
1
to 2 months |
Aerosol can,
real whipped cream |
3
to 4 weeks |
NEVER
freeze |
Aerosol can
non-dairy topping |
3
months |
NEVER
freeze |
Half and Half |
3
to 4 weeks |
4
months |
Commercial
Eggnog |
3
to 5 days |
6
months |
Margarine |
4
to 5 months |
12
months |
Milk |
7
days |
3
months |
Packaged
Pudding |
consume
by the earlier of the use-by date, or 2 days after opening |
Sour Cream |
7
to 21 days |
don't
freeze |
Yogurt |
7
to 14 days |
1
to 2 months |
Other |
Pizza, cooked
|
3
to 4 days
|
1
to 2 months
|
Stuffing,
cooked
|
3
to 4 days
|
1
month
|