Read the charts below to find out how long you should keep certain foods in the refrigerator or freezer.
Bacon and sausage
| Product | In a refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Sausage, raw: Pork, beef, turkey | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Smoked: Breakfast links, patties | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Hard sausage | Opened: 3 weeks Unopened: Indefinitely |
1 to 2 months |
| Summer sausage Labeled "keep refrigerated" |
Opened: 3 weeks Unopened: 3 months |
1 to2 months |
Deli and vacuum-packed products
| Product | In a refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Store-made or homemade egg, chicken, tuna, ham, macaroni salads | 3-4 days | Don't freeze well |
| Pre-stuffed pork & lamb chops, chicken breasts stuffed with dressing | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Stuffed pork chops | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Chicken breasts | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Store-cooked convenience meals | 1-2 days | Don't freeze well |
| Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners with USDA seal | Unopened: 2 weeks | Don't freeze well |
Eggs
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh eggs in shell | 3-5 weeks | Don't freeze |
| Eggs, raw yolks or white | 2-4 days | 1 year |
| Hardcooked eggs | 1 week | Don't freeze well |
| Liquid pasteurized eggs or egg substitute | Opened: 3 days. Unopened: 6 weeks | Don't freeze |
| Cooked egg dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
Fish and shellfish
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh fish and shellfish | 1-2 days | 3-6 months |
| Cooked fish | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Smoked fish | 14 days | 2 months |
Ham, corned beef
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Corned beef - in pouch with pickling juices | 5-7 days | Drained, wrapped: 1 month |
| Ham, canned - labeled "keep refrigerated" | Opened: 3-5 days. Unopened: 6-9 months | Don't freeze |
| Ham, fully cooked - whole | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked - half | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked - slices | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
Hamburger, ground and stew meats - fresh
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburger | 1–2 days | 3–4 months |
| Ground turkey, veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them | 1–2 days | 3–4 months |
| Stew meats | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
Hotdogs and lunch meats
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Hotdogs | Opened package: 1 week. Unopened package: 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Luncheon meats | Opened package: 3-5 days. Unopened package: 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
Mayonnaise
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial, refrigerate after opening | 2 months | Don't freeze |
Meat - fresh
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Steaks, beef | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Chops, pork | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Chops, lamb | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Roasts, beef | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Roasts, lamb | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Roasts, pork and veal | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Variety meats - tongue, brain, kidneys, liver, heart, chitterlings | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
Meat - cooked, leftovers
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked meat and meat dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Gravy and meat broth | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
Poultry - fresh
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken or turkey, whole | 1-2 days | 1 year |
| Chicken or turkey parts | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Giblets | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
Poultry - cooked, leftovers
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Fried chicken | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Cooked poultry dishes | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Pieces | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Pieces covered with broth, gravy | 3-4 days | 6 months |
| Chicken nuggets, patties | 3-4 days | 1-3 months |
Soups and stews
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable or meat-added | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
Frozen meals, commercially prepared
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | In the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|---|
| Keep frozen until ready to serve | - | 3-4 months |
Reviewed in 2021