Chilling foods helps maintain quality and safety, but not forever.
Here's the amount of time food can safely stay in your refrigerator.
| Product | Refrigerated | Frozen |
| Dairy Products | ||
| Butter | 1 - 3 months | 6 - 9 months |
| margarine | 4-5 months | 12 months |
| Cheese, soft (Brie, Bel Paese) | 1 week | 6 months |
| Cottage Cheese, ricotta | 1 week | Does not freeze well |
| Cream Cheese | 2 weeks | Does not freeze well |
| Eggs, in shell | 3 - 5 weeks | Does not freeze |
| Eggs, Hard-cooked | 1 week | Does not freeze well |
| Milk | 7 days | 3 months |
| Sour Cream | 7 - 21 days | Does not freeze well |
| Yogurt | 7 - 14 days | 1 - 2 months |
| Fish and Shellfish Lean Fish (cod, flounder, sole, etc.) |
1 - 2 days | 6 months |
| Shrimp, Scallops (shucked) | 1 - 2 days | 3 - 6 months |
| Meat, Fresh Beef, Lamb, Pork or Veal |
3 - 5 days | 4 - 12 months |
| Ground Meat | 1 - 2 days | 3 - 4 months |
| Meat, Smoked or Processed Bacon |
1 week | 1 month |
| Hot Dogs | 2 weeks (sealed) 1 week (opened) |
1 - 2 months |
| Lunch Meats | 2 weeks (sealed) 3 - 5 days (opened) |
1 - 2 months |
| Chicken or Turkey parts (fresh) | 1 - 2 days | 9 months |
| Chicken Nuggets, Patties (cooked) | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 3 months |
| Rotisserie Chicken (cooked) | 3 - 4 days | 4 months |
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