To Keep Or To Toss
How Long to Store Food In Your Refrigerator:
You might find some pretty scary stuff in the refrigerator or cupboard when you start cleaning. How will you decide what to keep and what to throw out? There are time limits on how long certain foods can safely keep in the refrigerator or cupboard. Here are some simple rules:
In the pantry:

Home canned foods should be used within one year. Sugar stored in a tightly-lidded canister is good for about two years. Flour can be safely stored for about 6 to 8 months. Dry noodles, rice or cake mixes are good for about one year.
In the refrigerator:
A moldy spot can be cut off hard cheeses, salami and firm fruits and vegetables, as long as the knife is kept out of the mold. Make sure you cut a one-inch square so the knife is kept out of the mold, so it doesn't spread to the surrounding area. 

Follow the instructions on the label for storage and handling. If not provided, use the following table as a guide when determining whether to keep or to toss those "mystery items" in your refrigerator or freezer:

 Food Item Storage Limit
Refrigerator Freezer
Eggs
Fresh in shell 3-5 days Don't Freeze
Raw yolks, whites 2-4 days 1 year
Hard Cooked 1 week Don't Freeze
Liquid pasteurized eggs

Unopened

Opened

  

10 days

3 days

 Don't Freeze
Cooked egg dishes 3-4 days Don't Freeze
Mayonnaise, commercial 2 months Don't Freeze
Deli and Vacuum Packed Products
Home or store-prepared salads; egg, chicken, tuna, macaroni, etc. 3-5 days

These Products Do Not Freeze Well
Pre-stuffed pork & lamb chops and chicken breasts 1 day
Store-cooked convenience meals 3-4 days
Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners with USDA seal, unopened 2 weeks
Raw Hamburger, Ground & Stew Meat
Ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb 1-2 days 3-4 months
Stew meats 1-2 days 3-4 months
Ham, corned beef
Ham, canned, labeled "Keep Refrigerated"

Unopened

Opened

6-9 months

3-5 days

Do Not Freeze
Ham, fully cooked,

whole

half

slices

7 days

3-5 days

3-4 days

 1-2 mo.

1-2 mo.

1-2 mo.
Corned beef in pouch with pickling juices 5-7 days 1 month
Hot Dog and Luncheon Meats
Hot dogs

Unopened package

Opened package		 2 weeks

1 week

 1-2 mo.

1-2 mo
Lunch Meats

Unopened package

Opened package

2 weeks

3-5 days

1-2 mo.

1-2 mo.
Soups & Stews 3-4 days 2-3 mo.
Bacon & Sausage
Bacon 7 days 1 mo.
Sausage, raw from meat or poultry 1-2 days 1-2 mo.
Smoked breakfast links, patties 7 days 1-2 mo.
Summer sausage labeled "Keep Refrigerated"

Unopened

Opened

3 months

3 weeks

3 months

1-2 mo.
Pepperoni, sliced 2-3 weeks 1-2 mo.
Cooked Meat, Poultry & Fish Leftovers
Previously cooked leftovers 3-4 days 2-3 mo.
Cooked casseroles, lasagna, etc. 3-4 days 2-3 mo.
Fresh Meat (Beef, Veal, Lamb & Pork)
Steak, chops, roasts 3-5 days 6-12 mo.
Variety meats (tongue, kidney, liver, heart, chitterlings)  1-2 days 3-4 mo
Fresh Poultry
Chicken or turkey, whole  1-2 days 1 year
Chicken or turkey, parts  1-2 days 9 mo.
Giblets 1-2 days 3-4 mo.
Fresh Fish & Shellfish 1-2 days 3 mo.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on storing food call the toll-free nationwide Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The Hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Time. Also, an extensive selection of timely food safety recordings are available 24 hours a day, every day, by using a touch-tone phone and the "user-friendly" menu which prompts callers.

Helpful food safety information is now available on the Internet. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Home Page address is http://www.fsis.usda.gov.

For more information about food protection in Solano County, please contact the Department of Resource Management Environmental Health Division at (707) 784-6765.