Go ahead, open your fridge. How long have most of the items been in there? You’re probably thinking to yourself, when should they be tossed? Since the sniff test or a quick eyeball over isn’t the best way to make that determination, take a look at the guidelines and then get ready to keep or toss ‘em.
The Guidelines
Your refrigerator and freezer are temporary storage facilities that can extend the shelf life of food. However, the food stored in your fridge and freezer can definitely spoil within a specific time frame. Here are guidelines for common foods but if you’re ever in doubt, toss the food out.Baby Food
Leftover baby food (jarred or canned): 2 to 3 days (refrigerator)
Beverages
Opened canned juices: 5 to 7 days (refrigerator)
Fresh orange juice: 6 days (refrigerator) or 6 months (freezer)
Opened sodas or carbonated beverages: 2 to 3 days (refrigerator)
Soy or rice milk: 7 to 10 days (refrigerator); don’t freezeBreads and Grains
Store-bought bagels: 1 to 2 weeks (refrigerator) or 2 months (freezer)
Commercial breads: 1 to 2 weeks (refrigerator) or 3 months (freezer)
Unopened flavored rice: 6 months (pantry)
Unopened white flour: 6 to 12 months (pantry)
Muffins: 1 week (refrigerator) or 2 months (freezer)
Uncooked brown or white rice: 6 months (refrigerator) or 2 years (pantry)
Leftover pasta dishes: 1 to 2 days (refrigerator) or 2 months (freezer)
Homemade cake: 3 months (freezer)
Frozen waffles or pancakes: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 2 months (freezer)Condiments
Opened barbecue sauce: 4 months (refrigerator)
Opened canned tomato sauce: 5 days (refrigerator)
Opened jar of commercial mayonnaise: 2 months (refrigerator); don’t freeze
Opened bottle of ketchup or chili sauce: 6 months (refrigerator)
Opened jar of mustard: 1 year (refrigerator)
Opened bottle of olive or vegetable oil: 4 months
Shredded Parmesan cheese: 1 month (refrigerator) or 3-4 months (freezer)
Opened jar of natural peanut butter: 4 to 6 months (refrigerator) or 2-3 months (freezer)
Opened jar of pasta sauce: 4 days (refrigerator)
Unopened coffee jar: 2 years (pantry)
Olives: 2 weeks (refrigerator); don’t freezeMeats and Poultry
Raw sausage (pork, beef, or turkey): 1 to 2 days (refrigerator) or 1 to 2 months (freezer)
Cooked chicken or turkey dishes: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 4 to 6 months (freezer)
Fried chicken: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 4 months (freezer)
Cooked ground chicken or turkey: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 2 to 3 months (freezer)
Cooked chicken nuggets: 1 to 2 days (refrigerator) or 1 to 2 months (freezer)
Meats with gravy or sauces: 1 to 2 days refrigerator or 6 months (freezer)
Rotisserie chicken: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 2 to 3 months (freezer)
Opened package of hot dogs: 1 week (refrigerator) or 1 to 2 months (freezer)
Opened package of deli meat: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 1 to 2 months (freezer)
Cooked meat dishes: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 2 to 6 months (freezer)Dairy Foods
Ice cream: 2 to 4 months (freezer)
Butter: 1 to 3 months (refrigerator) or 6-9 months (freezer)
Margarine: 4 to 5 months (refrigerator) or 1 year (freezer)
Milk: 1 week (refrigerator) or 3 months (freezer)
Sour cream: 1 to 3 weeks (refrigerator); don’t freeze
Yogurt: 1 to 2 week (refrigerator) or 1 to 2 months (freezer)Prepared Foods
Cut-up fruit: 4 days after cut; don’t freeze
Tuna or egg salad: 3 days (refrigerator); don’t freeze
Hard cooked eggs: 1 week (refrigerator); don’t freezeFreezer-Aisle Items
Frozen fruit: 1 year (freezer)
Frozen shrimp: 1 year (freezer)
Frozen veggies: 8 months (freezer)Other Common Leftovers
Pizza: 3 to 4 days (refrigerator) or 1 month (freezer)
Takeout: 3 to 5 days (refrigerator); don’t freeze
