Food shelf life lookup
Search a food to see how long it keeps in the pantry, fridge and freezer. Every entry comes from an official US source, linked on each card.
These are guidelines. Fridge times keep food from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat, and freezer times are for quality only. Check food for signs of spoilage before you eat it.
Salads
Egg, chicken, ham, tuna and macaroni salads
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- Does not freeze well
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Hot dogs, deli meat, sausage and bacon
Hot dogs, opened package
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Hot dogs, unopened package
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 weeks
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Luncheon meat, opened package or deli sliced
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Luncheon meat, unopened package
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 weeks
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Bacon
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- 1 month
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Sausage, raw, from chicken, turkey, pork, or beef
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 to 2 days
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Sausage, fully cooked, from chicken, turkey, pork, or beef
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Sausage, purchased frozen
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After cooking, 3-4 days
- Freezer
- 1-2 months from date of purchase
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Beef, pork, lamb and ham
Hamburger, ground meats and ground poultry
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 to 2 days
- Freezer
- 3 to 4 months
Applies to ground beef, turkey, chicken, other poultry, veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them.
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fresh beef, veal, lamb and pork: steaks
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 4 to 12 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fresh beef, veal, lamb and pork: chops
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 4 to 12 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fresh beef, veal, lamb and pork: roasts
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 4 to 12 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Ham, fresh, uncured, uncooked
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 6 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Ham, fresh, uncured, cooked
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 3 to 4 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Ham, cured, cook-before-eating, uncooked
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 5 to 7 days or “use by” date
- Freezer
- 3 to 4 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Ham, fully cooked, vacuum-sealed at plant, unopened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 weeks or “use by” date
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Ham, cooked, store-wrapped, whole
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Ham, cooked, store-wrapped, slices, half, or spiral cut
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Country ham, cooked
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- 1 month
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Canned ham labeled “Keep Refrigerated”, unopened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 6 to 9 months
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Canned ham, shelf-stable, unopened
- Pantry
- 2 years
- Fridge
- —
- Freezer
- —
The chart notes that an unopened, shelf-stable, canned ham can be stored at room temperature for 2 years.
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Canned ham, shelf-stable, opened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Prosciutto, Parma or Serrano ham, dry Italian or Spanish type, cut
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 to 3 months
- Freezer
- 1 month
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Chicken and turkey
Fresh chicken or turkey, whole
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 to 2 days
- Freezer
- 1 year
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fresh chicken or turkey, pieces
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 to 2 days
- Freezer
- 9 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fish and shellfish
Fatty fish (bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.)
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 to 3 days
- Freezer
- 2 to 3 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fresh crab meat
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 2 to 4 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Fresh lobster
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 2 to 4 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Live crab and lobster
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 day
- Freezer
- Not recommended
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Live clams, mussels, oysters and scallops
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 5 to 10 days
- Freezer
- Not recommended
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Shrimp and crayfish
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 6 to 18 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Shucked clams, mussels, oysters and scallops
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 10 days
- Freezer
- 3 to 4 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Squid
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 to 3 days
- Freezer
- 6 to 18 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Eggs, egg dishes and pies
Raw eggs in shell
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 weeks
- Freezer
- Do not freeze in shell. Beat yolks and whites together, then freeze.
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Raw egg whites and yolks
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 12 months
Yolks do not freeze well.
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Hard-cooked eggs
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Egg substitutes, liquid, unopened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Egg substitutes, liquid, opened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 days
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Egg substitutes, frozen, unopened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After thawing, 1 week or refer to “use by” date
- Freezer
- 12 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Egg substitutes, frozen, opened
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After thawing, 3 to 4 days or refer to “use by” date
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Casseroles with eggs
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After baking, 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- After baking, 2 to 3 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Eggnog, commercial
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- 6 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Eggnog, homemade
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 2 to 4 days
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Pies: pumpkin or pecan
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After baking, 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- After baking, 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Pies: custard and chiffon
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After baking, 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- Do not freeze
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Quiche with filling
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- After baking, 3 to 5 days
- Freezer
- After baking, 2 to 3 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Soups, leftovers and prepared foods
Soups and stews, vegetable or meat added
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 2 to 3 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Leftovers: cooked meat or poultry
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 2 to 6 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Chicken nuggets or patties
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 1 to 3 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Pizza
- Pantry
- —
- Fridge
- 3 to 4 days
- Freezer
- 1 to 2 months
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart (last reviewed September 19, 2023)
Canned foods
Canned foods, high-acid (tomatoes and fruits)
- Pantry
- 12 to 18 months
- Fridge
- —
- Freezer
- —
USDA says high-acid canned foods keep their best quality for this long. Discard cans that are dented, rusted or swollen.
Canned foods, low-acid (meats and vegetables)
- Pantry
- 2 to 5 years
- Fridge
- —
- Freezer
- —
USDA says low-acid canned foods keep their best quality for this long. Discard cans that are dented, rusted or swollen.