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Food Topics at
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Storage Periods for Retaining Food Quality
Food Room Temperature Refrigerator Freezer at 0°F
Milk/Milk Products
Milk 1 week1 month
Butter 2 weeks12 months
Canned or dry milk (unopened)  6 months
Cottage cheese 1 week3 months
Cream 1-2 weeks 
Ice cream  2-3 weeks
Margarine 1 month12 months
Natural cheese 1 month4-6 months
Processed cheese 1 month4-6 months
Sour cream, buttermilk, cream cheese 2 weeksNot recommended
Yogurt 1 month 
Meat
Fresh roasts, steaks, chops 3-4 days2-3 months
Fresh livers, hearts, kidneys, other variety meats 1-2 days3-4 months
Fresh ground meat, stew meat 1-2 days3-4 months
Cured pork and lunch meat 1 weekNot recommended
Cooked meat, gravies made with meat stock 2-3 days2-3 months
Canned meat 1 year 
Meat pies, stews, casseroles, meat salads 2-3 days3 months
Hotdogs 1 week (opened)
2 weeks (unopened)		1-2 months
Bacon 7 days1 month
Sausage, raw from pork, beef, turkey 1-2 days1-2 months
Hard sausage-pepperoni, jerky sticks 2-3 weeks1-2 months
Poultry/Eggs
Fresh poultry 2 days6-8 months
Cooked poultry 2-3 days6 months
Poultry stuffing 1 day 
Poultry pies, stews, creamed dishes, gravies 1 day6 months
Poultry salads 1 day 
Eggs 2-4 weeks1 year
Raw yolk, whites 2-4 days1 year
Hardcooked eggs 1 weekNot recommended
Liquid pasteurized eggs or egg substitutes 10 days (unopened)
3 days (opened)		1 year (unopened)
Egg-containing products: custards, custard sauces, puddings, custard-filled pastries or cakes 1-2 daysNot recommended
Puddings, canned 1-2 days (opened) 
Fish/Seafood
Fresh fish 1-2 days3-6 months
Cooked fish 3-4 days1 month
Fish salad 1 day 
Smoked fish 10 days4-5 weeks
Canned fish1 year Not recommended
Dried or pickled fish 3-4 weeks 
Clams, oyster (shucked) and scallops 7-9 days 
Crab 7 days2 months
Shrimp 3-5 days6-12 months
Lobster (shelled or unshelled) 3-7 days6-12 months
Wild Game
Venison 3-5 days3-4 months
Rabbit, squirrel 1-2 days12 months
Wild duck, pheasant, goose(whole) 1-2 days6 months
Fruits
ApplesUntil ripe1 month 
Citrus fruits 2-6 weeks 
Grapes 1-3 weeks 
Melons, most varieties 1 week 
Peaches, nectarines 2-3 weeks 
Pears (mature but not fully ripe) 1-3 months 
Pineapple, ripe 1 week 
Other fresh fruitUntil ripe3-5 days9-12 months
Canned fruit1 year2-4 days (opened) 
Dried fruit6 months2-4 days (cooked) 
Fruit juice concentrates  1 year
Canned fruit juices1 year3-4 days (opened) 
Vegetables
Asparagus 2-3 days 
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, green peas, green onions, lima beans, rhubarb, greens, summer squash, mushrooms 3-5 days 
Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, snap beans, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes 1 week 
Carrots, beets, parsnips, radishes, turnips 2 weeks 
Corn 1 day 
White potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, rutabagas, dry onions1 week (several months at 50-60°F)  
Canned or dried vegetables1 year1-4 days (opened/cooked) 
Cereal Products
Flour, white1 year  
Flour, whole or wheat 6-8 months1 year
Rice, white2 years  
Rice, brown6 months  
Ready-to-eat cereals1 year  
Uncooked cereals1 year  
Pasta1 year  
Corn meal 1 year 
Bakery Goods
Breads, baked with no preservatives 2-3 weeks2-3 months
Breads, quick, baked  2 months
Cake, angel  6-12 months
Cake, baked, frosted  1 month
Cake, baked, unfrosted  2-4 months
Cakes, batter  1 month
Cakes, fruit  6-12 months
Cinnamon rolls, partially baked  2 months
Cookies, baked, homemade 2-3 weeks6-12 months
Cookies, dough 1-2 days3 months
Cookies, packaged 2 months12-18 months
Crackers 2 months 
Doughnuts, unfrosted  2-4 months
Muffins, baked  6-12 months
Pies, fruit 2-3 days (baked)
1-2 days (unbaked)		6-8 months (baked)
2-4 months (unbaked)
Pies, pumpkin or chiffon 2-3 days1-2 months
Rolls and bread, unbaked 2-3 weeks1 month
Waffles  1 month
Mixes/Packaged Foods
Biscuit, brownie, muffin mix9 months  
Cake mixes6-9 months  
Casserole mix9-12 months  
Cookies, homemade2-3 weeks  
Cookies, packaged2 months  
Crackers3 months  
Croutons and bread crumbs6 months6 months1 year
Frosting, canned3 months  
Frosting, mix8 months  
Hot roll mix18 months  
Pancake mix6-9 months  
Piecrust, mix6-9 months  
Potatoes, instant6-12 months  
Rice mixes6 months  
Sauce and gravy mixes6-12 months  
Soup mixes12 months  
Toaster pastries2-3 months  
Other Foods
Baking powder18 months  
Baking soda2 years  
Chocolate syrup2 years (unopened)6 months (opened) 
Cocoa mixes8 months  
Coffee, lighteners (dry)9 months (unopened)
6 months (opened)		  
Cornstarch18 months  
Gelatin18 months  
Pectin1 year  
Salad dressings, bottled12 months (unopened)1-3 months (opened)Not recommended
Sugar, brown18 months  
Sugar, confectioners’18 months  
Sugar, granulated2 years  
Vinegar2 years (unopened)
1 year (opened)		  
Cheese, parmesan, grated10 months (unopened)
2 months (opened)		  
Coconut, shredded12 months (unopened)
6 months (opened)		  
Imitation bacon bits, etc.4 months  
Peas, beans, dried12 months  
Popcorn2 years  
Whipped topping, dry12 months  
Yeast, dryExpiration date on package  
Honey, jams, syrups, molasses1 year  
Nuts, unshelled6 months  
Nuts, shelled 6 months 
Peanut butter6 months (unopened)2 months (opened) 
Chocolate1 year  
Coffee1 year (unopened)
2-4 weeks (opened)		  
Coffee, instant6 months (unopened)
2 months (opened)		  
Pudding mixes1 year  
Shortening, solid8 months  
Vegetable oils1-3 months  
Tea, bags or loose1 year  
Tea, instant1 year  
Soft drinks3 months  
Bouillon products1 year  
Mayonnaise 10-12 weeksNot recommended
Spices, Herbs, Condiments, Extracts
Catsup, chili sauce12 months (unopened)
1 month (opened)		  
Mustard, prepared yellow (refrigerate2 years (unopened) for longer storage)
6-8 months (opened)		  
Spices, whole1-2 years  
Spices, ground6 months  
Herbs6 months  
Herb/spice blends2 years (unopened)
12 months (opened)		  
Other extracts12 months