Food Storage Time Guide
Find out how long food stays good in the fridge, the freezer and the pantry. Search meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, produce, bread, condiments and leftovers, see all three storage times at a glance, and enter the day you stored or cooked it to get a use-by date.
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When should I use it by?
Leftovers: the quick rules
- 2-hour rule: refrigerate cooked food within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if it is above 90 °F (32 °C) outside or in a hot car.
- 3–4 days: most leftovers keep 3–4 days in the fridge. Freeze anything you will not eat by then.
- Cool fast: divide big batches into shallow containers so they chill quickly; it is fine to put warm food in the fridge.
- Reheat to 165 °F (74 °C): bring soups, sauces and gravies to a rolling boil.
- Thaw safely: in the fridge, in cold water changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave and cook right away. Never on the counter.
- When in doubt, throw it out: you cannot see, smell or taste most bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Times assume a refrigerator at 40 °F (4 °C) or below and a freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C). Frozen food stays safe indefinitely; freezer times are for best quality. Times are typical guidance from US food safety charts (USDA, FDA); always follow package dates and discard food that smells, looks or feels off.
How to use the Food Storage Time Guide
- Search for a food or tap a popular item; filter by category if you like.
- Pick the food from the list to see fridge, freezer and pantry times.
- Enter the date you bought, opened or cooked it and choose where it is stored.
- Press Calculate use-by date to see the date and how many days are left.
- Check the leftovers rules below the guide before saving cooked food.
How long food keeps: quick reference
| Food | Fridge (40 °F) | Freezer (0 °F) |
|---|---|---|
| Raw ground meat, poultry, sausage | 1–2 days | 1–4 months (whole poultry up to 1 year) |
| Raw steaks, chops, roasts | 3–5 days | 4–12 months |
| Raw fish and shellfish | 1–2 days | 2–8 months |
| Cooked leftovers | 3–4 days | 2–6 months |
| Lunch meat, opened | 3–5 days | 1–2 months |
| Raw eggs in shell | 3–5 weeks | Do not freeze in the shell |
| Milk | About 1 week | About 3 months |
| Hard cheese, opened | 3–4 weeks | About 6 months |
Fridge, freezer and pantry basics
- Check your temperatures. Use an appliance thermometer: fridge at or below 40 °F (4 °C), freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C).
- Dates on packages such as "best by" and "sell by" are usually about quality, not safety. "Use by" is the last date recommended for peak quality; infant formula dates must be followed.
- Store raw meat on the bottom shelf in a container or on a plate so juices cannot drip onto ready-to-eat food.
- Label and date everything you freeze or store as leftovers so you know when it went in.
- First in, first out: move older items to the front so they get used first.
- Keep the pantry cool and dry. Heat, light and humidity shorten shelf life; store opened grains and flour in airtight containers.
Signs food has gone bad
Throw food out if it has an off or sour smell, a slimy or sticky surface, unusual color, or visible mold (except on hard cheese and firm produce, where you can cut away at least 1 inch around a small spot). Do not taste food to test it. Bacteria that cause foodborne illness usually do not change how food looks or smells, so follow the storage times even when food seems fine.
Frequently asked questions
How long do leftovers last in the fridge?
Most cooked leftovers, including meat, poultry, casseroles, soups, pizza and rice, keep 3 to 4 days in a refrigerator at 40 °F (4 °C) or colder. Freeze anything you will not eat by then; frozen leftovers stay safe indefinitely and taste best within 2 to 3 months.
How long does raw chicken or ground beef last in the fridge?
Raw chicken and raw ground meat should be cooked or frozen within 1 to 2 days of buying. Raw steaks, chops and roasts of beef, pork and lamb keep 3 to 5 days.
How long do eggs last in the fridge?
Raw eggs in the shell keep about 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator from the day you buy them, often past the sell-by date. Hard-boiled eggs keep about 1 week. Do not freeze eggs in the shell.
Is frozen food safe forever?
Food kept constantly at 0 °F (−18 °C) stays safe indefinitely because bacteria cannot grow. Freezer times in guides are for best quality: after that, food can become dry, freezer-burned or lose flavor, but it will not make you sick from the freezing time alone.
What is the 2-hour rule for food?
Perishable food should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours in total, or more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 °F (32 °C), such as at a summer picnic. Bacteria multiply fastest between 40 °F and 140 °F (4–60 °C).
Can I put hot food straight into the fridge?
Yes. It is safer to refrigerate hot food promptly than to let it cool on the counter. Split large amounts into shallow containers so they cool quickly and evenly.
How long can food stay frozen after thawing in the fridge?
Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, though quality may drop. Raw meat and poultry thawed in the fridge should be cooked within 1 to 2 days; food thawed in cold water or the microwave should be cooked right away.
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