Squeeze lemon juice on flesh, seal in plastic wrap
Bananas
2-3 months
5-9 days
2-7 days
Uncut, unwrapped
Bananas (halved)
1 month
1-2 days
1 day
Peel on, flesh wrapped in foil
Berries
8-12 months
3-5 days
1 day
Uncovered, vented container
Citrus
3 months
3 weeks
1-2 weeks
Uncut, unwrapped
Citrus (halved)
NEVER
2-3 days
1 day
Plastic wrap
Coconut
NEVER
2-3 months
1 month
Uncut, unwrapped
Melons
8-12 months
1 week
Until ripe
Grapes
3-5 months
1-2 weeks
3-5 days
Perforated plastic wrap
Kiwifruit
3-4 months
1 week
5 days
Uncut, unwrapped
Lemons
3-4 months
1-2 months
2-4 weeks
Uncut, unwrapped
Mangoes
2-3 months
2 weeks
5 days
Plastic bag
Melons
2-3 months
2 weeks
5 days once ripe
Uncut, unwrapped on countertop
Melons (halved)
1 month
7-10 days
2-3 days
Plastic wrap
Papaya
2-3 months
2 weeks
4 days
Plastic bag
Peaches
8-12 months
5 days
Until ripe
Countertop to ripen, refrigerator when ripe
Pears
8-12 months
2 weeks
4 days once ripe
Uncut, unwrapped
Pineapples
3-5 months
4-5 days
2-3 days
Uncut, unwrapped
Plums
8-12 months
5 days
Until ripe
Countertop to ripen, refrigerator when ripe
Strawberries
6-8 months
5-7 days
1-2 days
Wrap in paper towel, seal with plastic wrap
Tomatoes
8-12 months
2 weeks
5-7 days
Uncut, unwrapped, dark place outside refrigerator/in a vented container
Watermelon
NEVER
1-2 weeks
3-4 days
Uncut, unwrapped
* most fruits can be stored in the freezer when they’re pureed
Vegetables/Spices
Item
Freezer*
Refrigerator
Counter/ Pantry
Best Method
Asparagus
NEVER
3-4 days
1 day
Stems in water, lightly cover top in plastic bag
Basil
NEVER
1 week
1 day
Stems in water, fully cover top in plastic
Beets
NEVER
2 weeks
1 week
Plastic bag
Bell Pepper
NEVER
3-4 days
2 days
Plastic wrap
Broccoli
8-12 months
7-14 days
2 days
Plastic wrap
Cabbage
NEVER
2 weeks
2 days
Plastic wrap
Carrots
8-12 months
3 weeks
0-4 days
Plastic bag
Cauliflower
8-12 months
5 days
2 days
Plastic wrap
Celery
NEVER
2 weeks
2 days
Bottom in water like a flower pot, cover with plastic bag, ALTERNATELY wrap it in foil
Chili Peppers
8-12 months
2 weeks
4 days
Plastic bag
Chives
NEVER
5 days
1 day
Wrap in damp paper towel or plastic wrap
Cilantro
NEVER
1 week
2 days
Stems in water, lightly cover top in plastic bag
Corn
2 months
3-4 days
1 day
Plastic wrap
Cucumbers
8-12 months
1 week
1-3 days
Wrap in dry paper towel, seal with plastic wrap
Eggplant/Aubergine/Brinjal
NEVER
2 weeks
1 day
Plastic wrap
Garlic
1-2 years
1 month
2 months
Dark place outside refrigerator
Ginger
1 year
1 month
2 weeks
Uncut, unwrapped
Ginger (cut)
6 months
1-2 weeks
2 days
Plastic bag with dry paper towel
Greens
NEVER
7-10 days
3-4 days
Large plastic container layered with dry paper towels
Green Beans
8-12 months
1 week
0-1 day
Plastic bag with dry paper towel
Lettuce
NEVER
1 week
0-1 day
Wrap in dry paper towel, seal with plastic wrap
Mushrooms
NEVER
1 week
3-4 days
Brown paper bag
Onions
NEVER
2 months
2 weeks
Dark place outside refrigerator
Onions (halved)
NEVER
1-2 weeks
2 days
Sealed plastic bag
Parsley
NEVER
1 week
2 days
Stems in water, lightly cover top in plastic bag
Potatoes
NEVER
2 months
1-2 months
Brown paper bag outside refrigerator
Pumpkin
NEVER
2 months
2 months
Dark place outside refrigerator
Radishes
8-12 months
2 weeks
1 week
Wrap in dry paper towel, seal with plastic wrap
Rosemary
NEVER
2 weeks
3 days
Plastic wrap
Salad w/ Dressing (leftover)
1-2 weeks
3-5 days
2-3 hours
Spices & Herbs (ground and dried)
12 months
10 months
6-9 months
Spinach
NEVER
2 weeks
3 days
Unwrapped
Summer Squash
NEVER
5 days
5 days
Plastic bag
Sweet Potatoes/Yams
NEVER
2 weeks
2 weeks
Brown paper bag outside refrigerator
Thyme
NEVER
2 weeks
3 days
Plastic wrap
Vegetable Soup
2-3 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Winter Squash
NEVER
2 weeks
1 month
Dark place outside refrigerator
Zucchini
NEVER
1 week
2 days
Wrap in dry paper towel, seal with plastic wrap
* most high-fiber vegetables can be stored in the freezer when they’re pureed
Meats/Nuts
Item
Freezer
Refrigerator
Counter/ Pantry
Best Method
Bacon(opened)
4 months
1 week
2 hours
Bacon(unopened)
4 months
2 weeks
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Beef Chops
4-6 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Beef Ground Hamburger
6-8 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Beef Roasts
1 year
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Beef Tongue/Liver/Kidneys/Heart
3-4 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Cold Cuts (deli counter)
2-3 months
2 weeks opened, 5 days opened
4 hours
Cold Cuts (pre-packaged)
2-3 months
2 weeks opened, 5 days opened
4 hours
Broths & Soups
2-3 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Closed pot or freezer bag
Chicken (prepared dishes)
4-6 months
2 weeks
3 hours
Chicken (fried)
4 months
1 week
3 hours
Chicken (ground)
3-4 months
1 week
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Chicken Nuggets
1-3 months
1-2 weeks
5 hours
Packaging it came in
Chicken (whole)
1 year
1-2 days
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Chicken (parted)
9 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Fish (fatty)
2-3 months
1 day
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Fish (lean)
6-9 months
1 day
2 hours
Sealed bag with no air
Ham (cooked)
2 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Hot Dogs (opened)
1-2 months
1 week
2 hours
Hot Dogs (unopened)
1-2 months
2-3 weeks
5-6 hours
Lamb (raw)
9 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Lunch Meat (opened)
1-2 months
3-5 days
2 hours
Lunch Meat (unopened)
1-2 months
2 weeks
2 hours
Nuts
3 months
1-2 months
1 month
Pork (ground)
3-4 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Pork Chops
4-6 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Pork Roasts
4-12 months
1-2 weeks
2 hours
Sausages(raw, opened)
1-2 months
1-2 days
1-2 hours
Sausages(raw, unopened)
1-2 months
2 weeks
2-6 hours
Sausages(fully cooked)
1-2 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Shellfish
2-3 months
1 day
1 hour
Shallow tray, single layer, covered with damp paper towel
Steak
6-12 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Turkey (ground)
3-4 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Turkey (whole)
1 year
1-2 days
2 hours
Turkey (parted)
9 months
1-2 days
2 hours
Veal
9 months
1 week
2 hours
Venison
3-4 months
1 week
2 hours
NOTE: The optimum surface color for meat (cherry-red for beef, dark cherry-red for lamb, grayish-pink for pork, and pale pink for veal) is very short-lived and changes from oxygen exposure, so the color doesn’t matter near as much as odor for detecting quality.
Dairy
Item
Freezer
Refrigerator
Counter/ Pantry
Best Method
Butter
6-9 months
1-3 months
10 days
Cheese (fresh)
6-8 months
1 week
3 days
In water, change every 2 days
Cheese (hard)
6-8 months
1-4 months
1-3 months
Wrapped in brown paper, then wrapped lightly in plastic wrap
Cheese (soft)
6-8 months
2-3 weeks
1-4 hours
Wrapped in brown paper, then wrapped lightly in plastic wrap
Eggs (hard boiled)
NEVER
2-3 weeks
2-3 days
Eggs (raw)
NEVER
3-4 weeks
2-3 hours
Milk
3-6 month
5-7 days
0-3 hours
Yogurt
1-2 months
2-3 weeks
0-3 hours
NOTE: Milk itself never technically spoils to becoming inedible, but can become rancid.