Food Storage: Recommended Shelf Life

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RECOMMENDED TIMES FOR REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER FOOD STORAGE

FOOD

REFRIGERATOR

FREEZER

DAIRY

Fresh milk

5- 7 days

*

Buttermilk

1-2 weeks

*

Canned milk (opened)
3-5 days
*

Cream (unwhipped)
10 days
*

Cream (whipped)
1 day
2 months

Sour cream
4 weeks
*

Yogurt, cottage cheese
7 days (after "sell-by date")
*

Hard cheese, grated cheese
6-12 weks
6-12 months

Cheese spreads
3-4 weeks
*

Butter/margarine
2 weeks
9 months

Ice cream
*
2 months

EGGS

Fresh in shell
3 weeks
*

Hard cooked
1 week
*

MEATS, FRESH

Beef roasts, steaks
3-5 days
6-12 monhts

Chicken or turkey, pieces
1-2 days
9-12 months

Chicken or turkey, whole
1-2 days
1 year

Duck or goose
1-2 days
6 months

Game birds
1-2 days
6 months

Giblets
1-2 days
3-4 months

Ground meat or stew
1-2 days
3-4 months

Lamb, roasts or chops
3-5 days
6-9 months

Pork, roasts or chops
3-5 days
4-6 months

Pre-stuffed pork and lamb chops or chicken breasts
1 day
*

Sausage
1-2 days
1-2 months

Variety meats: heart, liver, tongue, etc.
1-2 days
3-4 months

Venison, roasts, steaks, chops
3-5 days
6-12 months

MEATS, COOKED

Smoked breakfast sausage
7 days
1-2 months

Whole ham (fully cooked)
7days
1-2 months

Half ham (fully cooked)
3-5 days
1-2 months

Ham slices (fully cooked)
3-4 days
1-2 months

Canned ham ("keep refrigerated" label)
6-9 months
*

Hotdogs, luncheon meats (unopened)
2 weeks
1-2 months

Hotdogs, luncheon meats (opened)
3-7 days
1-2 months

Cooked, leftover meat
3-4 days
2-3 months

Leftover gravy and meat broth
1-2 days
2-3 months

Cooked, leftover poultry
3-4 days
4-6 months

Cooked, leftover chicken nuggets or patties
1-2 days
1-3 months

SEAFOOD, FRESH

Fresh lean fish: cod, flounder, trout, haddock, halibut, pollack, perch
1-2 days
4-6 months

Fresh fatty fish: mullet, smelt, salmon,mackerel, bluefish, tuna and swordfish
1-2 days
2-3 months

Live crabs and lobster
same day purchased
*

Live mussels and clams
2-3 days
*

Live oysters
7-10 days
*

Shucked  mussels and clams
1-2 days
3- 4 months

Shucked oysters
5-7 days
3-4 months

Shrimp, crabmeat
2-3 days
4 months

Scallops
2-3 days
3 months

COOKED FISH

Fish sticks
*
18months

Bread shrimp, commercial
*
1 year

Cooked pieces
3-4 days
3 months

FRUITS, FRESH

Apples
1 months
8-12 months

Apricots, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums
3-5 days
8-12 months

Avocados
3-5 days
8-12 months

Bananas, plantains
*
8-12 months

Berries, cherries
2-3 days
8-12 months

Grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges
2 weeks
4-6 months

Guavas, papayas
1-2 days
8-12 months

Kiwis
3-5 days
4-6 months

Mangoes
*
8-12 months

Melons
1 week
8-12 months

Pineapple
2-3 days
4-6 months

VEGETABLES, FRESH

Artichokes
1 week
*

Asparagus
2-3 days
8-12 months

Beets, carrots
2 weeks
8-12 months

Beans, broccoli, lima beans, peas, summer squash
3-5 days
8-12 months

Cauliflower
1 week
8-12 months

Cilantro, parsley
2-3 days
*

Corn
use immediately for best flavor
8-12 months

Green onions
3-5 days
*

Celery, cabbage, chilies, green beans, peppers, tomatoes
1 week
8-12 months

Greens: colards, kale, mustard, spinach, swiss chard
3-5 days
8-12 months

Lettuce and salad greens
1 week
*

Mushrooms, okra
1-2 days
8-12 months

Radishes
2 weeks
*

Squash, hard
*
8-12 months

BAKED PRODUCTS

BREADS: Store at room temperature.  Storing in the refrigerator promotes staling.  Use the date as a guide or use within 3 to 7 days.  

Bread, yeast
*
6-12 months

Muffins, rolls, quick breads
*
2-4 months

Pancakes and waffles
*
1-2 months

COOKIES

Baked
*
4-6 months

Unbaked dough
2-3 days
6 months

CAKES: Store at room temperature, except for cheesecake.  Best used within 3 to 7 days

Angel and sponge
*
4-6 months

Cheese
3-7 days
4-6 months

Fruit
*
1 year

Layer cake (butter cream icing or plain)
*
6 months

PASTRIES:  Store at room temperature.  Best used within 1 to 3 days

Danish
*
3 months

Doughnuts
*
3 months

PIES

Chiffon pie, pumpkin pie
1-2 days
1 month

Fruit pie
1-2 days
1 year

Unbaked fruit pies
*
8 months

* Storage here not recommended due to safety or quality issues.

Dried Food Items - Shelf Life
Baking powder/soda - 18 months 
Bread Crumbs - 6 months 
Cereals - 6 months 
Coffee creamer, dry-6 months 
Flour/cake mixes - 1 year 
Gelatin/pudding mixes - 1 year 
Herbs/spices - 6-12 months 
Milk, nonfat dry - 6 months 
Pancake/pie crust mixes - 6 months 
Pasta/noodles -2 years 
Potatoes, instant - 18 months 
Rice, white - 2 years 
Sugar, granulated - 2 years 
Sugar, brown, confectioners'- 4 months 

Beans
Dried beans, if kept free from moisture, will last for several years. This is the best to 
stretch your hard earned dollars and healthy too!

Drinks
Almost all juices that you buy, such as apple and cranberry juice, can last 3-5 years un-opened. But not all juices are the same so make sure you contact the manufacturer's consumer phone number. 

Other Items
Chocolate - unsweetened 18 months 
Coffee, vacuum pack - 1 year 
Milk, canned - 1 year 
Molasses - 2 years 
Nuts - 8 months 
Oils/salad dressings - 3 months 
Peanut butter (unopened) - 6 months 
Sauces, condiments, relishes (unopened) - 1 year 
Shortening - 8 months 
Syrups - 1 year 
Tea - 18 months 

Sell-by Date: This is the last recommended day of sale, but allows for home storage and use. The date is given after the statement, "Sell by (a date)." Breads and baked goods may have "sell-by dates."

Use-by Date: Tells how long the product will retain top quality after you buy it. You will find this date after the statement, "Use by." Some packaged goods have "use-by dates."

Expiration Date: This is the last day the product should be used or eaten. You may find this date after the statement, "Do not use after (date)." Eggs may have "expiration dates."

Pack Date: Canned or packaged foods may have dates that tell you when the product was processed. This does not tell how long the food will be good.

These are guidelines; if a food is not properly handled, its storage life will be shortened. Follow these tips for purchasing top-quality foods that have been handled safely.

Look for packages of food that are not torn or broken. 
Refrigerated food should feel cold (less than 45 �F) and frozen food should be frozen solid. Purchase these foods last. 
When shopping, place packaged raw meat, poultry and fish in plastic bags and keep from contact with other foods. 
Take perishable foods home quickly to refrigerate. If travel time will exceed one hour, pack fresh meats in a cooler with ice and keep in the passenger area of the car in warm weather. 
At home, refrigerate perishable food immediately. The "DANGER ZONE" for most food is between 40 to 140 �F. Bacteria grow most rapidly in this range of temperatures, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. 

RECOMMENDED TIMES FOR FOOD STORED IN COOL, DRY PANTRY (65 TO 70 �F)

Canned fruits, juices, tomatoes, pickles
12-18 months

Canned meats and vegetables
2-5 years

Home-canned foods
1 year

Onions
1-3 months at room temperature or below

Potatoes
1-3 months at 45-50 �F
1 week at room temperature

Squash, hard-rinds
1-3 months at 60 �F
1 week at room temperature

Sweet Potatoes
1-3 months at 60 �F
1 week at room temperature

THE FOLLOWING FOODS SHOULD BE STORED IN THE PANTRY IN TIGHTLY SEALED OR AIRTIGHT CONTAINERS:  

Staples

Bread Crumbs
4 months

Brown Rice
6 months

Cornmeal and hominy grits
12 months

Honey and syrups
1 year

Nonfat dry milk
1 year

Olive oil
6 months

Pasta
1-2 years

Rice
1 year

Shortening
2 years

Sugar, Granulated
indefinitely

Sugar, brown or powdered
18 months

Vegetable oil
1 year

Wheat germ (unopened)
8-12 months

White flour
10-15 months

Whole wheat flour
3 months (best in refrigerator or freezer)

Wild rice
6 months

Packaged Foods

Baking mix (biscuit, cake)
6 months

Cereals
12 months

Soup mix (dry)
12 months

Dried Foods

Dried apricots
3 months (refrigerate after opening)

Dried prunes, raisins
9 months (refrigerate after opening)

Dried peas and beans
1 year

Herbs, Spices and Condiments

Salt, cream of tarter
indefinitely

Ground spices and herbs
2-3 years

Whole spices
4-5 years

Tabasco, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce
30 months

Beverages (sealed, unopened)

Bottled Water
2-5 years

Juices
12-18 Months

Soft drinks
8 months

Miscellaneous

Chocolate
2 years

Chocolate chips, cocoa
18 months

Coffee (canned)
12 months

Nuts (unshelled)
6-12 months

Peanut butter
3-4 months (best refrigerated)

Tapioca
4 years

Tea
18 months

Bread and Cakes
Store breads and cakes at room temperature.  Storing in the refrigerator promates staling.  use within 3-7 days or freeze.  
http://groups.msn.com/FrugalLiving/foodlifespan.msnw