How Long Can You Refrigerate or Freeze Food?.

by Real Simple Magazine, on Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:57pm PDT165

Surprising expiration dates for popular perishables.

By Elisa Huang

If you’re saving food in plastic bags, be sure to follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration guidelines for safe storage. Frozen foods can be stored indefinitely, but the flavor can change when food is stored past the time limits below.


Raw Beef Roast and Steaks
Refrigerator: 3 to 5 days
Freezer: 6 to 12 months

Raw Pork Roast and Chops
Refrigerator: 3 to 5 days
Freezer: 4 to 6 months

Raw Lamb Roast and Chops
Refrigerator: 3 to 5 days
Freezer: 6 to 9 months

Raw Veal Roast and Chops
Refrigerator: 3 to 5 days
Freezer: 4 to 6 months

Cooked Meat
Refrigerator: 3 to 4 days
Freezer: 2 to 3 months

Soup
Refrigerator: 3 to 4 days
Freezer: 2 to 3 months

Raw Chicken Pieces
Refrigerator: 1 to 2 days
Freezer: 9 months

Cooked Chicken Pieces
Refrigerator: 3 to 4 days
Freezer: 4 months

Times are based on a freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Storing and eating frozen foods past these deadlines isn't dangerous, but flavors and textures will begin to deteriorate.

Chicken or turkey pieces, uncooked: nine months
Fruit pies, unbaked: eight months
Fruit: 6 to 12 months
Steaks, uncooked: 6 to 12 months
Butter: 6 to 9 months
Lean fish: six months
Roasts, uncooked: 4 to 12 months
Chicken or turkey, cooked: 4 to 6 months
Chops, uncooked: 4 to 6 months
Shellfish, uncooked: 3 to 6 months
Hamburger: 3 to 4 months
Bread and cake: three months
Cookies, baked or dough: three months
Meat casseroles, cooked: three months
Fatty fish: 2 to 3 months
Soups and stews: 2 to 3 months
Ice cream and sorbet: two months
Ham, cooked: 1 to 2 months
Bacon: one month

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/how-long-can-you-refrigerate-or-freeze-food-1753460/