ShelfLife
How long does food last?
Storage times for everyday foods in the fridge, the freezer and the pantry, with how to tell when something has gone bad.
By where you keep it
By type of food
Dairy and eggs
- ButterFridge: 1–2 months
- ButtermilkFridge: 1–2 weeks
- CheeseFridge: 6 months
- Coffee creamerFridge: 3 weeks
- Cottage cheeseFridge: 2 weeks
- CreamFridge: 10 days
- Cream cheeseFridge: 2 weeks
- EggsFridge: 3–5 weeks
- KefirFridge: 1 week
- MargarineFridge: 6 months
- MilkFridge: until the use-by date
- RicottaFridge: 2 weeks
- YogurtFridge: 1–2 weeks
Meat
- BaconFridge: 1 week
- Corned beefFridge: 5–7 days
- Deli meatFridge: 2 weeks
- Ground beefFridge: 1–2 days
- HamFridge: 1 week
- Hot dogsFridge: 2 weeks
- JerkyPantry: 12 months
- LambFridge: 3–5 days
- PorkFridge: 3–5 days
- ProsciuttoFridge: 2–3 months
- SausageFridge: 1–2 days
- SteakFridge: 3–5 days
- VealFridge: 3–5 days
Poultry
Fish and seafood
- Canned tunaPantry: 3 years
- CrabFridge: 1–3 days
- FishFridge: 1–2 days
- LobsterFridge: 1 day
- MusselsFridge: 1–2 days
- ScallopsFridge: 1–3 days
- ShrimpFridge: 1–3 days
- Smoked salmonFridge: 21–30 days
- SurimiFridge: until the use-by date
Fruit
- ApplesFridge: 4–6 weeks
- AvocadosFridge: 3–4 days
- BananasFridge: 3 days
- CherriesFridge: 2–3 days
- CoconutFridge: 2–3 weeks
- CranberriesFridge: 2 months
- GrapesFridge: 1 week
- KiwiFridge: 3–6 days
- Lemons and citrusFridge: 10–21 days
- MangoFridge: 1 week
- MelonFridge: 5–15 days
- PeachesFridge: 3–5 days
- PineappleFridge: 5–7 days
- PomegranateFridge: 1–3 months
- StrawberriesFridge: 2–3 days
- WatermelonFridge: 3–4 days
Vegetables and herbs
- ArtichokesFridge: 1–2 weeks
- AsparagusFridge: 3–4 days
- Bean sproutsFridge: 5–10 days
- BeetsFridge: 1–2 weeks
- Bok choyFridge: 2–3 days
- BroccoliFridge: 3–5 days
- Brussels sproutsFridge: 3–5 days
- CabbageFridge: 1–2 weeks
- CarrotsFridge: 2–3 weeks
- CauliflowerFridge: 3–5 days
- CeleryFridge: 1–2 weeks
- Corn on the cobFridge: 1–2 days
- CucumbersFridge: 4–6 days
- EggplantFridge: 4–7 days
- Fresh herbsFridge: 7–10 days
- GarlicPantry: 1 month
- GingerFridge: 2–3 weeks
- Green beansFridge: 3–5 days
- KaleFridge: 3–5 days
- LeeksFridge: 1–2 weeks
- LettuceFridge: 1–2 weeks
- MushroomsFridge: 3–7 days
- OnionsPantry: 1 month
- PeppersFridge: 4–14 days
- PotatoesPantry: 1–2 months
- PumpkinPantry: 2–3 months
- RadishesFridge: 10–14 days
- TomatoesPantry: until ripe
- ZucchiniFridge: 1 week
Bread and baked goods
- BagelsPantry: 1–2 days
- BreadPantry: 14–18 days
- CakePantry: 3–7 days
- CookiesPantry: 4–6 months
- MuffinsPantry: 3–7 days
- PiePantry: 1–2 days
- Refrigerated doughFridge: until the use-by date
- TortillasPantry: 3 months
Rice, grains, beans and pasta
- CerealPantry: 6–12 months
- Cooked riceFridge: 4–6 days
- Dried beansPantry: 1–2 years
- OatsPantry: 12 months
- PastaFridge: 3–5 days
- QuinoaPantry: 2–3 years
Leftovers and prepared food
- HummusFridge: 3 months
- LeftoversFridge: 3–4 days
- PâtéFridge: 1–2 days
- PizzaFridge: 3–4 days
- Potato saladFridge: 3–5 days
- SoupFridge: 3–4 days
Condiments and sauces
- Barbecue saucePantry: 1 year
- Hot saucePantry: 6 months
- JamPantry: 6–18 months
- KetchupPantry: 1 year
- MayonnaisePantry: 3–6 months
- MustardPantry: 1–2 years
- OlivesPantry: 12–18 months
- Pasta saucePantry: 18 months
- PicklesPantry: 1 year
- Salad dressingPantry: 10–12 months
- SalsaPantry: 1 year
- Soy saucePantry: 3 years
- TahiniPantry: 1 year
- VinegarPantry: 2 years
Baking ingredients and spices
- Baking sodaPantry: 2–3 years
- ChocolatePantry: 1–2 years
- FlourPantry: 6–12 months
- SpicesPantry: 2–3 years
- SugarPantry: indefinitely
- Vanilla extractPantry: 2 years
- YeastPantry: 2 years
Pantry staples
- BrothFridge (opened): 3–4 days
- Canned foodPantry: 2–5 years
- Coconut milkPantry: 2–5 years
- CrackersPantry: 8 months
- Dried fruitPantry: 6 months
- Evaporated milkPantry: 12 months
- HoneyPantry: 2 years
- Maple syrupPantry: 4 years
- NutsPantry: 1 year
- Olive oilPantry: 6–12 months
- Peanut butterPantry: 6–24 months
- PopcornPantry: 2 years
- Potato chipsPantry (opened): 1–2 weeks
Frozen food
Drinks
- Almond milkFridge: until the use-by date
- Bottled waterPantry: indefinitely
- CoffeePantry: 3–5 months
- LiquorPantry: indefinitely
- Orange juiceFridge (opened): 7–10 days
- SodaFridge (opened): 2–3 days
- TeaPantry: 18–36 months
- WinePantry: 3–5 years
Tofu and plant proteins
Baby food
Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.