FDA Guidelines: Maximum Cold Storage Times
The FDA recommends that you follow the following maximum cold storage times:
Product — Refrigerator (40°F) — Freezer (0°F)
Eggs
Fresh, in shell — 3 weeks — Don’t freeze
Hardcooked — 1 week — Don’t freeze
TV Dinners—n/a— Keep frozen until ready to use—Keeps 3-4 months
Deli prepared convenience foods such as egg, chicken, ham, and macaroni salads — 3-5 days — Don’t freeze
Hot dogs and Lunch Meats
Hot dogs, opened package — 1 week — 1-2 months
Hot dogs, unopened package — 2 weeks, but not more than one week after the “sell-by” date — 1-2 months
Lunch meats, opened — 3-5 days — 1-2 months
Lunch meats, unopened — 2 weeks — 1-2 months
Deli sliced luncheon meats — 3-5 days — Don’t freeze
Soups and Stews
Vegetable or meat added — 3-4 days — 2-3 months
Ground Meat and Poultry — 1-2 days — 3-4 months
Bacon — 7 days — 1 month
Sausage — 1-2 days — 1-2 months
Ham
Ham, fully cooked, whole — 7 days — 1-2 months
Ham, fully cooked, half — 3-5 days — 1-2 months
Ham, fully cooked, slices — 3-4 days — 1-2 months
Fresh Meat
Beef, steaks, and roasts — 3-5 days — 6-12 months
Pork, chops, and roasts — 3-5 days — 4-6 months
Lamb, chops, and roasts — 3-5 days — 6-9 months
Veal — 3-5 days — 4-8 months
Meat Leftovers — 3-4 days — 2-3 months
Fresh Poultry
Chicken or turkey, whole — 1-2 days — 1 year
Chicken or turkey pieces — 1-2 days — 9 months
Poultry Leftovers — 3-4 days — 4 months
