Food Storage Guidelines

from: Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech
Food Pantry Refrigerator Freezer
(RoomTemp) (33°F to 40°F) (0°F)
Bread and Cereal Products
Baked quick breads 4-5 days 1-2 weeks 2-3 months
Bread 5-7 days 1-2 weeks 3 months
Bread, rolls unbaked 2-3 weeks 1 month
Flour, cake, all-purpose 1 year 1-2 years
Flour, whole wheat 6-8 months 1-2 years
Pies and pastries 3 days 4-6 months
Pies and pastries, baked 1-2 months
Rice, white, (cooked) 6-7 days 6 months
Packaged Foods and Mixes
Cookies, packaged 2 months 8-12 months
Herbs 6 months 1-2 years
Herb/spice blends 2 years 1-2 years
Spices, ground 6 months 1-2 years
Spices, whole 1-2 years 2-3 years
Cornstarch 18 months 2 years
Popcorn 1-2 years 2 years 2-3 years
Frozen vegetables 8 months
Fruits
Frozen fruit 1 year
Fruit juice concentrate 6 days 1 year
Fruit pies, baked 2-3 days 8 months
Dairy Products
Butter 2 weeks 9 months
Cottage cheese 1 week 2 weeks
Cream-light, heavy, half- and-half 1 week 1-2 months
Margarine 1 month 9 months
Milk 8-20 days 3 months
Ice cream and sherbet 2 months
Hard natural cheese 3 months 6 months
Processed cheese 1 month 6 months
Meats, Poultry, Eggs and Fish Meats
Fresh beef steaks and roasts 3-4 days 6-12 months
Fresh pork chops 2-3 days 4-6 months
Fresh lamb chops 3-5 days 6-8 months
Southern Savers Handbook : page 24
Fresh veal 1-2 days 4-6 months
Fresh ground meat 1 day 3-4 months
Cooked meat 2-3 days 2-3 months
Canned meat 1 year 1 week* 3-4 months
Ham, whole 1 week 1-2 months
Bacon 2 weeks 3 months
Luncheon meat 2 weeks 1 month
Fish
Breaded fish 3 months
Cooked fish 3-4 days 1 month
Fresh fish 1-2 days 3-6 months
Seafood-clams, crab, lobster in shell 1-2 days 3 months
Seafood-oysters & scallops 1 day 3-4 months
Seafood-shrimp 1 day 1 year
Poultry and Eggs
Fresh poultry 1 day 1 year
Eggs, pasteurized 12 days 1 year
Egg substitute 10 days 1 year
Wild Game
Game birds 2 days 9 months
Venison 3-5 days 9-12 months
* Opened + Cooked ^ Refrigerate after opening # After manufacture date