How long has this been in the refrigerator?

Refrigerate foods to maintain quality as well as to keep them safe. Some bacteria grow and multiply, although very slowly, at refrigerated temperatures. There is a limit to the time various foods will stay fresh and safe in a refrigerator. Food kept continuously frozen at 0° F will always be safe but the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.
Food is properly refrigerated at a temperature range between 35-40° F or 2-6° C!
Did you check your Refrigerator lately?
Product Refrigerated Frozen
Beverages, fruit 3 weeks unopened
Juice in cartons, fruit drinks, punch 7-10 days open 8-12 months
Condiments
Refrigerated pesto, salsa Date on carton; 3 days after opening 1-2 months
Sour cream-based dip 2 weeks Doesn't freeze well
Dairy products
Butter 1-3 months 6-9 months
Buttermilk 7-14 days 3 months
Cheese, hard (Cheddar, Swiss) 6 months unopened; 3-4 weeks opened 6 months
Cheese, soft (Brie, Bel Paese) 1 week 6 months
Cottage cheese, Ricotta 1 week Doesn't freeze well
Cream cheese 2 weeks Doesn't freeze well
Cream whipping, ultrapasteurized 1 months Do not freeze
Whipped, sweetened 1 day 1-2 months
Aerosol can, real whipped cream 3-4 weeks Do not freeze
Aerosol can, non-dairy topping 3 months Do not freeze
Cream, Half and Half 3-4 days 4 months
Eggs - Safety
unopened substitutes, liquid 10 days Manufacturer says:
opened substitutes, liquid 3 days "Do not freeze"
Eggnog, commercial 3-5 days 6 months
Eggs, in shell 3-5 weeks Do not freeze
Raw whites 2-4 days 12 months
Raw yolks 2-4 days Doesn't freeze well
Hard cooked 1 week Doesn't freeze well
Margarine 4-5 months 12 months
Milk 7 days 3 months
Pudding Package date; 2 days after opening Do not freeze
Sour cream 7-21 days Doesn't freeze well
Yogurt 7-14 days 1-2 months
Deli foods
Entrees, cold or hot 3-4 days 2-3 months
Store-sliced lunch meats 3-5 days 1-2 months
Salads 3-5 days Do not freeze
Dough
Tube cans of biscuits, rolls, pizza dough, etc. Use-by date Do not freeze
Ready-to-bake pie crust Use-by date 2 months
Cookie dough Use-by date, unopened or opened 2 months
Fish
Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock, sole, etc.) 1-2 days 6 months
Fatty fish (bluefish, mackerel, salmon, etc.) 1-2 days 2-3 months
Caviar, non-pasteurized (fresh) 6 months unopened; 2 days after opening Do not freeze
Caviar, pasteurized, vacuum-packaged 1 year unopened 2 days after opening Do not freeze
Cooked fish 3-4 days 4-6 months
Smoked fish 14 days or date on vacuum pkg. 2 months in vacuum pkg.
Shellfish
Shrimp, scallops, crayfish, squid 1-2 days 3-6 months
Shucked clams, mussels and oysters 1-2 days 3-6 months
Live clams, mussels, crab, lobster and oysters 2-3 days 2-3 months
Cooked shellfish 3-4 days 3 months
Meat, fresh
Beef, lamb, pork, or veal chops; Steaks, roasts 3-5 days 4-12 months
Ground meat 1-2 days 3-4 months
Variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.) 1-2 days 3-4 months
cooked meats (home cooking) 3-4 days 2-3 months
Meat, smoked or processed
Bacon 7 days 1 month
Corned beef, in pouch with juices 5-7 days 1 month
Ham, canned ("keep refrig." label) 6-9 months Not in can
Ham, fully cooked, whole 7 days 1-2 months
Ham, fully cooked, slices or halves 3-4 days 1-2 months
Ham, cooked before eating 7 days 1-2 months
Hot dogs, sealed in package 2 weeks 1-2 months
Hot dogs, after opening 1 week 1-2 months
Lunch meats, sealed in package 2 weeks 1-2 months
Lunch meats, after opening 3-5 days 1-2 months
Sausage, raw, bulk type 1-2 days 1-2 months
Sausage, smoked links, patties 7 days 1-2 months
Sausage, hard, dry (pepperoni), sliced 2-3 weeks 1-2 months
Pasta, fresh 1-2 days or package date 2 months
Poultry, fresh
Chicken or turkey, whole 1-2 days 12 months
Chicken or turkey, parts 1-2 days 9 months
Duckling or goose, whole 1-2 days 6 months
Giblets 1-2 days 3-4 months
Poultry, cooked or processed
Chicken nuggets, patties 1-2 days 1-3 months
Cooked poultry dishes 3-4 days 4-6 months
Fried chicken 3-4 days 4 months
Ground turkey or chicken 1-2 days 3-4 months
Lunch meats, sealed in package 2 weeks 1-2 months
Lunch meats, after opening 3-5 days 1-2 months
Pieces covered with broth or gravy 1-2 days 6 months
Rotisserie chicken 3-4 days 4 months

Storage: main - baked - dry - frozen - produce - refrigerated

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