*Dates apply to opened vacuum-sealed packages. Store nopened vacuum-sealed packages in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or until the "use by" date expires.
Refrigerator and Freezer Tips:
Keep your refrigerator temperature between 34 and 40-degrees. Keep foods wrapped in airtight containers to keep from drying out and odors from transferring to other foods. Keep meats in the coldest part of the refrigerator and vegetables stored in the crisper. Keep your freezer set at 0-degrees for storage that is longer than a week or two. Always wrap foods in heavy-duty foil or freezer paper, or place in freezer containers to protect from freezer burn.
Label and date all foods that go into the freezer so it is easy to identify the packages and use within the recommended dates.
| Food |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| FRESH MEAT
|
Chops (lamb)
|
3 to 5 days
|
4 to 6 months
|
Chops (pork)
|
3 to 5 days
|
4 to 6 months
|
Ground, stew meats
|
1 to 2 days
|
3 to 4 months
|
Roasts (beef)
|
3 to 5 days
|
6 to 12 months
|
Roasts, lamb
|
3 to 5 days
|
4 to 6 months
|
Roasts (pork, veal)
|
3 to 5 days
|
4 to 6 months
|
Sausage, fresh pork
|
1 to 2 days
|
1 to 2 months
|
Steaks
|
3 to 5 days
|
6 to 12 months
|
| COOKED MEATS
|
Cooked meat, meat dishes
|
3 to 4 days
|
2 to 3 months
|
| PROCESSED MEATS
|
Bacon
|
1 week*
|
1 to 2 months
|
Frankfurters
|
1 week*
|
1 to 2 weeks
|
Ham (fully cooked half)
|
3 to 5 days
|
1 to 2 months
|
Luncheon meats
|
3 to 5 days*
|
1 tp 2 months
|
Sausage (smoked)
|
1 week
|
1 to 2 months
|
| FRESH POULTRY
|
Chicken and turkey (whole)
|
1 to 2 days
|
1 year
|
Chicken pieces
|
1 to 2 days
|
9 months
|
Duck and goose (whole)
|
1 to 2 days
|
1 year
|
Turkey pieces
|
1 to 2 days
|
9 months
|
| COOKED POULTRY
|
Covered with broth or gravy
|
1 to 2 days
|
6 months
|
Pieces not in broth or gravy
|
3 to 4 days
|
3 to 4 days
|
Cooked casseroles
|
3 to 4 days
|
4 to 6 months
|
| FISH
|
All
|
1 to 2 days
|
3 to 6 months
|
| EGGS
|
Whites
|
2 to 4 days
|
12 months
|
Whole eggs (fresh in shell)
|
3 weeks
|
Cannot freeze
|
Yolks
|
2 to 4 days
|
12 months
|
| CHEESE
|
Cottage
|
5 days
|
Cannot freeze
|
Hard Cheese
|
3 to 4 months
|
6 months
|
Soft Cheese
|
2 weeks
|
4 weeks
|
| ICE CREAM
|
All
|
Cannot refrigerate
|
1 to 3 months
| BUTTER OR MARGARINE
|
Both
|
1 month
|
3 to 6 months
|
|