ShelfLife

Meat: storage times

Tap a food for how to store it, how to tell it has gone bad and whether it freezes well.

FoodFridgeFreezerPantry
Raw bacon1 weekfrom purchaseOpened: 1 week1 monthfrom purchase—
Uncured bacon4–7 days3–4 weeks—
Precooked bacon, shelf-stable—Opened: 5–14 days—6 monthsfrom purchase
Raw corned beef in a pouch with brine5–7 daysfrom purchase1 monthfrom purchase—
Pre-packaged deli meat (ham, turkey, salami)2 weeksfrom purchaseOpened: 3–5 days1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Deli meat sliced at the counter3–5 daysfrom purchase1–2 months—
Raw ground beef1–2 daysfrom purchase3–4 monthsfrom purchase—
Cooked ground beef dishes3–4 days2–3 months—
Whole cooked ham, bone-in1 weekfrom purchase1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Spiral-cut or sliced cooked ham3–4 daysfrom purchase1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Vacuum-packed boneless cooked ham2 weeksfrom purchase1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Hot dogs2 weeksfrom purchaseOpened: 1 week1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Store-bought jerky—Opened: 2–3 months—12 monthsfrom purchase
Homemade jerky1–2 months—1–2 months
Lamb chops, ribs or loin3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Boneless leg of lamb3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Lamb stew meat3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Ground lamb1–2 daysfrom purchase3–4 monthsfrom purchase—
Pork chops3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Pork loin roast3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Pork tenderloin3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Pork shoulder3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Ground pork1–2 daysfrom purchase3–4 monthsfrom purchase—
Prosciutto2–3 months1 month—
Pastrami40 days——
Raw sausage (links, patties, bulk)1–2 daysfrom purchase1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Fully cooked smoked sausage, kielbasa1 weekfrom purchase1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Hard dry sausage, sliced (pepperoni)2–3 weeksfrom purchase1–2 monthsfrom purchase—
Beef steaks3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Beef roasts (round, rump)3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Chuck roast, brisket3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Veal shoulder roast3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Veal leg roast3–5 daysfrom purchase4–12 monthsfrom purchase—
Ground veal1–2 daysfrom purchase3–4 monthsfrom purchase—

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.