How long does food last?
Counter, fridge, or freezer, for 95 everyday foods. Then keep it on your list, with a note on when to use it by.
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Food storage chart
How long each food keeps at room temperature, in the fridge, and in the freezer.
| Food | Room temperature | Fridge | Freezer | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apples | 3 weeks | 4-6 weeks | Not given | |
| Avocados | until ripe | 3-4 days | Not given | |
| Baby formula | 1 hour | 1-2 days | Not given | |
| Bacon | Not given | 7 days | 4 months | |
| Bananas | until ripe | 3 days | 2-3 months | |
| Bottled water | indefinitely | Not given | Not given | |
| Bread | 14-18 days | 2-3 weeks | 3-5 months | |
| Breast milk | up to 4 hours | up to 4 days | 6 months (up to 12) | |
| Broccoli | Not given | 3-5 days | 10-12 months | |
| Butter and margarine | 1-2 days for butter | 1-2 months for butter, 6 months for margarine | 6-9 months for butter, 12 months for margarine | |
| Cake | 3-7 days | 7-10 days | 6 months | |
| Carrots | Not given | 2-3 weeks | 10-12 months | |
| Cheese | Not given | 3-4 weeks once opened | 3-6 months | |
| Cheesecake | Not given | 5-7 days | 3-6 months | |
| Chicken | Not given | 1-2 days | up to 1 year | |
| Citrus fruit | 10 days | 10-21 days | Not given | |
| Coffee | 2 weeks-5 months | 1-4 months | 6 months-2 years | |
| Cookies | 2-6 months | Not given | 8-12 months | |
| Corn on the cob | Not given | 1-2 days | 8 months | |
| Cream | Not given | 10 days | 3-4 months | |
| Cucumbers | Not given | 4-6 days | Not given | |
| Deli meat | Not given | 3-5 days once opened | 1-2 months | |
| Eggs | Not given | 3-5 weeks | up to 12 months for whites | |
| Fish | Not given | 1-2 days | 6-8 months | |
| Garlic | 1 month | 3-14 days | 1 month | |
| Ginger | 2-5 days | 2-3 weeks | 6 months | |
| Grapes | 1 day | 1 week | 1 month | |
| Ground beef | Not given | 1-2 days | 4 months | |
| Juice | until use-by date | 7-10 days | 8-12 months | |
| Lettuce | Not given | up to 2 weeks | Not given | |
| Milk | Not given | until the use-by date | 3 months | |
| Mushrooms | 1-2 years if dried | 3-7 days | 10-12 months | |
| Onions | 1 month | 2 months | 10-12 months | |
| Pasta | up to 2 years | 3-5 days | 1-2 months | |
| Pickles | 1 year | 1-3 months | Not given | |
| Pie | 2 hours | 3-4 days | 1-2 months | |
| Pizza | Not given | 3-4 days | 1-2 months | |
| Pork | Not given | 3-5 days | 4-12 months | |
| Potatoes | 1-2 months | 1-2 weeks | 10-12 months | |
| Rice | up to 2 years | 4-6 days | up to 6 months | |
| Salmon | Not given | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | |
| Sausage | Not given | 1-2 days | 1-2 months | |
| Shrimp | Not given | 1-3 days | 6-18 months | |
| Steak | Not given | 3-5 days | 4-12 months | |
| Strawberries | Not given | 2-3 days | 8-12 months | |
| Tea | 18-36 months | Not given | Not given | |
| Tomatoes | until ripe, then 7 days | Not given | 2 months | |
| Turkey | Not given | 1-2 days | up to 12 months | |
| Watermelon | 1-2 days | 3-4 days | 12 months | |
| Yogurt | Not given | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 months | |
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All storage guides
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How long do apples last in the fridge?
Whole apples last 4 to 6 weeks in the fridge and 3 weeks in the pantry, per USDA FoodKeeper. See how long applesauce and cider keep too.
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How to store asparagus in the fridge or freezer
Asparagus lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 5 months in the freezer, per USDA FoodKeeper. Blanch it first if you plan to freeze it.
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How to store avocados and keep them fresh
Ripe avocados last 3 to 4 days in the fridge, and USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing them. Ripen them at room temperature first.
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How long is baby formula good for?
Prepared baby formula lasts 1 hour at room temperature and 1 day in the fridge. Opened ready-to-feed formula keeps 2 days in the fridge.
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How long does bacon last in the fridge?
Bacon keeps 7 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. Cooked bacon lasts 4 to 5 days, and bacon grease keeps 6 months.
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How to keep bananas fresh and how long they last
Ripe bananas last 3 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer, per USDA FoodKeeper. Let them ripen in the pantry first.
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Questions people ask
How long does asparagus last in the fridge?
About 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Frozen, it keeps for 5 months.
Do cucumbers need to be refrigerated?
Yes. USDA FoodKeeper gives whole cucumbers 4 to 6 days in the fridge and no time at room temperature.
Does ginger go bad?
Yes. Raw ginger lasts 2 to 5 days at room temperature, 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge, and 6 months in the freezer.