Food Shopping and Storing Freezing Food How Long You Can Store (Almost) Anything in the Fridge and Freezer Of all the things we waste, food is one of the elements that can make a serious impact. Follow these guidelines to know what is still fresh―and what to toss. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty Images Is that chicken breast at the bottom of your freezer still safe to eat? How about the soy sauce that's been in your fridge for who knows how long? We are here to help. It can be difficult to know when food needs to be tossed and when it's perfectly safe to salvage. Safety comes first, of course, but the United States tosses nearly 40 percent of its food every year. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, that adds up to over $160 billion wasted annually. This Is the Secret to Storing Every Type of Fruit and Vegetable So They Last Longer If you're feeling guilty thinking about all of the food your family may be unnecessarily tossing out every week, don't worry. There are numerous easy ways to change your habits to waste fewer ingredients, starting with knowing exactly how long foods stay fresh in your fridge and freezer and keeping your refrigerator temperature at the right level. We've demystified the process with this handy guide, which incorporates advice from the USDA, food scientists, and food manufacturers. (Scroll down for downloadable versions that are perfect for hanging on the fridge). Remember: Expiration dates should be taken with a grain of salt, as they're not federally regulated. A "use by" or "best by" date typically says when the product will be at its best quality. When in doubt, remember that your nose knows. If you notice off odors or a change in appearance in your food, do not consume it. How Long Food Lasts in the Fridge Produce Apples: 3 weeksBlueberries: 1 weekBroccoli and cauliflower: 1 weekChard, kale, and spinach: 3 daysLeafy herbs: 3 daysLemons and limes: 3 weeksLettuce: 5 daysMelon: 5 daysMushrooms: 1 weekStrawberries and raspberries: 3 daysWinter squash: 1 weekWoody herbs: 3 weeks How to Reduce Food Waste in Your Home Dairy Hard cheeses: 4 to 6 months, unopenedButter: 3 monthsCream cheese: 2 months, unopenedEggs: 3 to 5 weeksHeavy cream: 1 monthMilk: 1 weekPizza: 3 to 4 daysRicotta and cottage cheese: 1 weekSour cream: 3 weeksSoft cheese: 2 weeks, unopenedTofu: 3 weeksYogurt: 2 weeks Meat, poultry, seafood Bacon: 2 weeks, unopenedChicken: 1 to 2 daysCold cuts: 2 weeks, unopenedFish fillets: 2 daysGround meat: 1 to 2 daysHot dogs: 2 weeks, unopenedPork, chops, and roasts: 3 to 5 daysRaw shrimp: 2 daysShellfish (in shells): 2 daysShellfish (shucked): 1 daySteaks: 3 to 5 days Opened condiments Ketchup: 6 monthsMaple syrup: 1 yearMayonnaise: 2 monthsMustard: 1 monthSalsa: 1 monthSoy sauce: 1 year The Major Storage Mistake You're Making With Bread How Long Food Lasts in the Freezer Times are based on a freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Storing and eating frozen foods past these deadlines isn't dangerous, but flavors and textures will begin to deteriorate. Meat, poultry, seafood Bacon: 1 monthChicken, raw: 9 to 12 monthsChicken or turkey, cooked: 4 to 6 monthsCold cuts: 2 monthsFish fillets: 6 monthsGround meat: 4 monthsHam, cooked: 1 to 2 monthsHot dogs: 1 to 2 monthsMeat casseroles, cooked: 3 monthsPork, chops, and roasts: 4 to 12 monthsRaw shrimp: 6 monthsShellfish (shucked): 3 monthsSteaks: 4 to 12 monthsTofu: 5 months Other Bread and cake: 3 monthsButter: 6 to 9 monthsCookies, baked or dough: 3 monthsFruit: 6 to 12 monthsFruit pies, unbaked: 9 monthsIce cream and sorbet: 2 monthsPizza: 1 to 2 monthsSoups and stews: 2 to 3 monthsYogurt: 2 months realsimple.com Pro tip: Download and print out your own version to stick up in the kitchen, or keep a screenshot saved on your phone or tablet. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit