Refrigerator Storage Chart

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DAIRY PRODUCTS
FRUITS- Fresh
VEGETABLES- Fresh
MEAT, FISH, AND POULTRY- Fresh, Uncooked
CURED AND SMOKED MEATS
OTHER FOODS

DAIRY PRODUCTS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 37°F	HANDLING HINTS
Butter	1-2 weeks	Wrap or cover tightly. Hold only two-day butter supply or two week margarine supply in butter keeper.
Margarine	4-6 months
Buttermilk	3-5 days	Cover tightly. Flavor not affected if buttermilk separates; remix before serving.
Cheese cottage, ricotta cream, Neufchâtel Cheddar, Edam, Gouda, Swiss, brick, etc. (large pieces) unopened opened sliced Parmesan, Romano: grated (opened) processed (opened)	5 days 2 weeks 3-6 months 3-4 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks 2 months 3-4 weeks	Keep all cheese tightly packaged in moisture resistant wrap. If outside of hard cheese gets moldy, just cut mold away- it won't affect flavor. For longer storage, see freezer storage chart. Refrigerate after opening. (See cupboard storage chart. Refrigerate slices of process cheese and cheese food. Refrigerate loaves and jars after opened. Most squeeze packages and aerosol cans don't need refrigeration (check label).
Cream: light, heavy, half-and half	3 days	Cover tightly. To prevent bacterial spreading into leftover cream, do not return unused cream to original container.
Coffee lightner (liquid)	3 weeks	Do not return unused portion to original container.
Dips, sour-cream, etc. commercial homemade	2 weeks 2 days	Keep tightly covered.
Eggs in-shell whites yolks	2-3 weeks 3 days	Store covered. Keep small end down to center yolks. Store in covered container. Cover yolks with water; store in covered container.
Milk evaporated (opened) homogenized, reconstituted dry nonfat, skimmed sweetened, condensed (opened)	4-5 days 5 days 4-5 days	Keep covered. Keep containers tightly closed. Don't return unused milk to original container. Keep covered.
Sour Cream	2 weeks	Keep covered.
Whipped Topping in aerosol can prepared from mix bought frozen (once thawed)	3 months 3 days 2 weeks	Keep covered.
Yogurt	7-10 days	Keep covered.
FRUITS- Fresh
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 37°F	HANDLING HINTS
Apples	1-3 weeks	*
Berries, Cherries	1-2 days	*
Citrus fruit	3 weeks	*
Juices: bottled, reconstituted frozen, canned	6 days	Keep fruit juice tightly covered. Transfer canned juice to glass or plastic container if not used up in one day.
Melons	1 week	Wrap uncut cantaloupe and honeydew to prevent odor spreading to other foods.
Other fruits	3-5 days	Wrap cut surfaces of citrus fruit and cantaloupe to prevent Vitamin C loss.
*Discard bruised or decayed fruit. Do not wash before storing- moisture encourages spoilage. Store in crisper or moisture resistant bag or wrap.
VEGETABLES- Fresh
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 37°F	HANDLING HINTS
Asparagus, Corn in husks	1-2 days	Keep moist.
Beans, green or wax	1-2 days	Keep in crisper or moisture resistant wrap or bag.
Beets, Carrots, Radishes	1-2 weeks	Remove leafy tops; keep in crisper.
Cabbage, Celery	1-2 weeks	Keep in crisper or moisture resistant wrap or bag.
Lettuce, head (washed, thoroughly drained)	3-5 days	Store away from other vegetables and fruits to prevent russet spotting.
Mushrooms	1-2 days	Do not wash before storing.
Onions, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes		Refrigeration not needed. (See cupboard storage chart)
Shredded Cabbage, Leaf and Bibb Lettuce, Salad Greens	1-2 days	Keep in moisture resistant wrap or bag.
Tomatoes, ripe	1-2 days	Ripen tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight; then refrigerate.
Unshelled Peas, Limas, Spinach	3-5 days	Keep in crisper or moisture resistant wrap or bags.
MEAT, FISH, AND POULTRY- Fresh, Uncooked
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 37°F	HANDLING HINTS
Beef, Lamb, Pork, and Veal chops ground meat roasts steaks stew meat variety meats (liver, heart, etc.)	2-3 days 1-2 days 2-4 days 2-3 days 1-2 days 1 day	*
Chicken, Duck, or Turkey: ready-to-cook	2 days	*
Clams, Crab, Lobster: in shell	2 days	*Cook only live shellfish.
Fish and Shellfish: fresh cleaned fish, including steaks and fillets	1 day	*
Seafood: including shucked Clams, Oysters, Scallops, Shrimp	1 day	*Store in coldest part of refrigerator.
*All meat, poultry, and fish- When bought in plastic wrappings (from self-serve counters), store in these packages. If not purchased from self-serve counters, remove from package and wrap loosely in waxed paper. This allows surface to dry; dry surface retards bacterial growth. (Reason for difference: Meat packages in self-serve counters have been handeled by many shoppers. Opening these before storage provides opportunity for contamination, which more than offsets merits of "dry surface")
CURED AND SMOKED MEATS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 37°F	HANDLING HINTS
Bacon	7 days	*
Bologna loaves, Liverwurst	4-6 days	*
Corned Beef	5-7 days	*
Dried Beef	10-12 days	*
Dry and semi-dry Sausages (Salami, etc.)	4-5 days	*
Frankfurters	4-5 days	*
Hams whole canned (unopened)	1 week 6 months	*
Liver Sausage	4-5 days	*
Luncheon Meats	5-7 days	*
Sausage, fresh or smoked	2-3 days	*
*Store in refrigerator unless label indicates refrigeration is not needed. Keep wrapped. Store in coldest part of refrigerator or in meat keeper. Times are for opened packages. Refer to processor's freshness date on package for storage times for unopened packages.
OTHER FOODS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 37°F	HANDLING HINTS
Canned Goods fruits, opened vegetables, opened Puddings, Custards (opened)	1 week 2-3 days 1-2 days	If not used in one day, transfer to glass or plastic container to avoid metallic taste. Cover and refrigerate. Keep covered.
Leftover Gravy and Broth	2 days	Keep covered.
Refrigerated Biscuits, Rolls, Pastries, Cookie dough	Expiration date on label.	Do not store in refrigerator door; temperature fluctuation and jarring lower quality.