This article is an excerpt from the book called “1001 Ideas for Kitchen Organization” by “Joseph R Provey”. List all the food items which could be in your fridge with approximate storage times for the Refrigerator and Freezer. This guide can be referred by users when storing a particular food in their refrigerator.
Recommended Storage time for Refrigerator and Freezer
| Type of Food | Fridge | Freezer |
| Dairy products | ||
| Butter/margarine | 2 weeks | 9 months |
| buttermilk | 1-2 weeks | * |
| Cheese (grated and hard) | 6 months | 6-12 months |
| Cottage cheese (creamed) | 7 days | * |
| Cottage cheese (dry curd) | 7 days | 1 month |
| Cream (whipped) | 1 day | 2 months |
| Ice cream | * | 2 months |
| Milk, condensed (opened) | 3-5 days | * |
| Milk, evaporated (opened) | 3-5 days | * |
| Milk, fresh | 5-7 days | * |
| Sour cream | 4 weeks | * |
| Yogurt | 7 days(after “sell-by date) | * |
| Ham,sliced(fully cooked) | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, whole (fully cooked ) | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Hot dogs (opened) | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Hot dogs (unopened) | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Roast | 3-5 days | 4-6 months |
| sausage | 1-2 days | 1-2 months |
| Smoked breakfast sausage | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Lamb: | ||
| Chops | 3-5 days | 6-9 months |
| Patties | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Roast | 3-5 days | 6-9 months |
| Veal: | ||
| Roast | 3-5 days | 4-8 months |
| Venison: | ||
| Chops | 3-5 days | 6-12 months |
| Roast | 3-5 days | 6-12 months |
| Steak | 3-5 days | 6-12 months |
meat products
| Beef: | ||
| Corned | 5-7 days(in pouch w/juices) | 1 month (drained) |
| Ground | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Hard sausage | 2-3 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Roast | 3-5 days | 6-12 months |
| Steak | 3-5 days | 6-12 months |
| stew meat | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Pork: | ||
| Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Chops | 3-5 days | 4-6 months |
| Ham, canned | 6-9 months | * |
| Ham, half (fully cooked) | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Variety Meats: | ||
| Heart, liver, tongue, etc. | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Deli and Vacuum-Packed Meat Products: | ||
| Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners with USDA seal | 2 weeks (unopened) | * |
| Lunch meats (opened) | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Lunch meats (unopened) | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Pre-stuffed pork and lamb chops or chicken breasts | 1 day | * |
| Cooked, Leftover Meat: | ||
| Gravy and meat broth | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Meat and meat dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Soups and stews | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
Poultry products
| Chicken or turkey , pieces | 1-2 days | 9-12 months |
| Chicken or turkey , whole | 1-2 days | 1 year |
| Duck,whole | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Game birds | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Giblets | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Goose | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Ground turkey | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Cooked Leftover Poultry: | ||
| Cooked dishes | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Fried chicken | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Nuggets or parties | 1-2 days | 1-3 months |
| Picots with broth/gravy | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Plain pieces | 3-4 days | 4 months |
Eggs
| Fresh in shell | 3 weeks | * |
| Hard cooked | 1 week | * |
| Liquid paecurized eggs or opened | 3 days | * |
| Liquid paecurized eggs or unopened | 10 days | 1 year |
| Eggs volks, whites | 2-4 days | 1 year |
HSH
| Kerry fisfork and shellfish on ice in the refrigerator | ||
| 3 days | 2-3 months | |
| 3 days | 4-6 months | |
| Fresh Shellfish: | ||
| Crabmeat | 2-3 days | 4 months |
| Live crabs and lobster | 1-2 days | 2-3 months(after killing) |
| Live mussels and clams | 4-5 days | * |
| Live oysters | 7-10 days | * |
| Scallops | 2-3 days | 3 months |
| Shrimp | 2-3 days | 4-6 months (raw or cooked, not thawed) |
| Shucked mussels and clams | 2-3 days | 3-4 months |
| Shucked oysters | 5-7 days | 3-4 months |
| Squid, cleaned | 3-4 days | 3-4 months |
| Squid, whole | 2-3 days | 1-2 months |
| Smoked Fish: | ||
| Herring | 3-4 days | 2 months |
| Salmon | 5-8 days | 2 months |
| Whiting | 5-8 days | 2 months |
| Cooked Fish: | ||
| Breaded scallops, commercial | * | 16 months |
| Breaded Shrimp, commercial | * | 1 year |
| Cooked pieces | 3-4 days | 3 months |
| Fish sticks | * | 18 months |
| Surimi | 2 weeks | 9 months |
Fruits
| Apples | 1 month | 8-12 months |
| Apriconts | 3-5 days | 8-12 monts |
| Avocados | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Bananas | * | 8-12 months |
| Berries | 2-3 days | 8-12 months |
| Cherries | 2-3 days | 8-12 months |
| Grapefruit | 2 weeks | 4-6 months |
| Grapes | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Guavas | 1-2 days | 8-12 months |
| Kiwis | 3-5 days | 4-6 months |
| Lemons | 2 weeks | 4-6 months |
| Limes | 2 weeks | 8-12 months |
| Mangoes | * | 8-12 months |
| Melons | 1 weeks | 4-6 monts |
| Oranges | 2 weeks | 4-6 months |
| papayas | 1-2 days | 8-12 months |
| peaches | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Pears | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| pineapples | 2-3 days | 4-6 months |
| Plantains | * | 8-12 months |
| Plums | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Rhubarb | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
Fruit juices
| Concentrate | * | 2 years |
| Fresh or reconstituted | 5-7 days | 8-12 months |
Vegetables
| Asparagus | 2-3 days | 8-12 months |
| Beets | 2 weeks | 8-13 months |
| Bok Choy | 2-3 days | 8-12 months |
| Broccoli | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Brussels sprouts | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Cabbage | 1-2 weeks | 8-12 months |
| Cauliflower | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Celery | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Chilies | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Cilantro | 2-3 days | * |
| corn | Use immediately for best flavor | 8-12 months |
| Green beans | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Greens: spinach, collards, kale, etc. | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Jerusalem artichokes | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Jicama | 2-3 weeks | 8-12 months |
| Kohlrabi (leaves) | 2-3 weeks | 8-12 months |
| Kohlrabi (stem) | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Lettuce and salad greens | 1 week | * |
| Lima beans | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Mushrooms | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Okra | 1-2 days | 8-12 months |
| Onions,green | 3-5 days | * |
| Parsley | 2-3 days | * |
| Peas | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
| Peppers | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Radishes | 2 weeks | * |
| Squash,hard | * | 8-12 months |
| Tomatillos | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Tomatoes | 1 week | 8-12 months |
| Yuca (Cassava) | 1-2 days | 8-12 months |
| Zucchini and summer squash | 3-5 days | 8-12 months |
Baked products
Breads:Store at room temperature. Storing in the refrigerator promotes staling. Use the date on the label as a guide or use within 3 to 7 days.
| Bread, yeast | * | 6-12 months |
| Muffins | * | 2-4 months |
| Pancakes | * | 1-2 months |
| Quick breads | * | 2-4 months |
| Rolls, yeast | * | 2-4 months |
| Waffles | * | 1-2 months |
Cakes: Store at room temperature, except for cheesecake .Best used within 3 to 7 days.
| Angel | * | 4-6 months |
| Cheese | 3-7 days | 4-6 months |
| Chiffon | * | 4-6 months |
| Fruit | * | 1 year |
| Layer( buttercream icing or plain) | * | 6 months |
| Sponge | * | 4-6 months |
| Cookies: | ||
| Baked | * | 4-6 months |
| Unbaked dough | 2-3 days | 6 months |
Pastries: Store at room temperature. Best used within 1 to 3 days.
| Danishes | * | 3 months |
| Doughnuts | * | 3 months |
| Pies: | ||
| Chiffon | 1-2 days | 1 month |
| Fruits | 1-2 days | 1 year |
| Miece | 1-2 days | 4-8 months |
| Pumpkin | 1-2 days | 1 month |
| Unbaked fruit | * | 8 months |
Baby Food
Liquid:
| Expressed breast milk | 5 days | 3-4 months |
| Formula | 2 days | * |
Solids (open or freshly made):
| Homemade baby foods | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Strained fruits and vegetables | 2-3 days | 6-8 months |
| Strained meats and eggs | 1 day | 1-2 months |
| Strained meats/vegetables combination | 1 -2 days | 1-2 months |
Miscellaneous
| Fresh pasta | 1 week | 1 month |
| Mayonnaise | 2 months | * |
| Nuts | 6 months | 1 year |
| Sandwiches | 1-2 days | 1 week |
| Tofu | 1 week | 1 month |
Foods that do not freeze well
Because of Flavor Changes:
| Artificial salt(salt substitute) |
| Artificial vanilla flavor |
| Garlic |
| Home-fried foods |
| Onions |
| Spices (especially clove, sage) |
Because of Texture Changes:
| Cooked egg whites |
| Cream sauces |
| Custards |
| Gravy thickened with wheat flour |
| Mayonnaise |
| Pasta |
| Potatoes |
| Soft meringues |
Courtesy of Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
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