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Table 1: Safe food storage guidelines.
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Product
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Refrigerator
(35-40 degrees F)
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Freezer
(0 to -10 degrees F)
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Comments
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BREADS, PASTRIES AND CAKES
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Breads, baked (no preservatives)
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2-3 weeks
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2-3 months
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Store in refrigerator to inhibit mold growth.
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Baked muffins
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*
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2-3 months
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Baked quick breads
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*
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2-3 months
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Unbaked rolls and bread
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3-4 days
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1 month
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Longer storage inactivates yeast, weakens gluten.
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Cakes: frosted or
unfrosted, baked
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*
*
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2-4 months
2-4 months
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Cookies, baked
dough
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2-3 weeks
3-4 days
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6-12 months
3 months
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Flour, white or whole wheat
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6-8 months
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12 months
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Keep in airtight container.
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Pies: fruit, baked
fruit, unbaked
pumpkin or chiffon
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2-3 days
1-2 days
2-3 days
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2-4 months
2-4 months
1-2 months
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Waffles
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1-2 days
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1 month
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*Not necessary to refrigerate unless product cannot be used within 4-5 days or time recommended on package.
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DAIRY PRODUCTS
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Butter
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2-3 months
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12 months
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Freeze in original carton, overwrap in plastic freezer bag.
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Buttermilk
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1-2 weeks
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NR
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Check date on carton. Will keep several days after date.
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Cheese:
cottage, ricotta
cream cheese
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5-7 days
2 weeks
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1 month
1 month
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Freezing changes texture of soft cheeses.
Becomes crumbly when frozen; can be used in cooking when creaminess is not important.
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Natural, aged cheeses
(cheddar, Swiss, brick, gouda, mozzarella, etc.): large pieces, packaged or wax coated
slices or opened packages
Parmesan, Romano, (grated)
Pasteurized process cheese
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2-3 months
2-3 weeks
12 months
3-4 weeks
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6-8 months
6-8 months
6-8 months
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Natural and processed cheeses can be frozen. Defrost in refrigerator; cheese will be less likely to crumble. Use soon after thawing.
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Coffee whitener (liquid)
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3 weeks
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See package
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Cream, light or half and half
(UHT processed-opened)
(UHT processed-unopened)
whipping or heavy
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1 week
1 week
4 weeks
1 week
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3-4 weeks
NR
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Whipping cream will not whip after thawing. Whipped cream may be frozen and stored for 1-2 weeks.
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Dip, sour cream, commercial
homemade
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2 weeks
3-4 days
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NR
NR
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Margarine
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3 months
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12 months
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Overwrap in plastic freezer bag for frozen storage.
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Milk, evaporated, opened
fluid whole, low-fat
reconstituted nonfat dry
sweetened, condensed, opened
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3-5 days
1 week
1 week
3-5 days
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1-3 months
1-3 months
1-3 months
1-3 months
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Freezing affects milk's flavor, appearance; use for cooking.
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Sour cream
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2-3 weeks
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NR
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Sour cream will separate if frozen.
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Whipped topping:
fzn. carton, thawed
in aerosol can
prepared from mix
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2 weeks
3 weeks
3 days
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NR
NR
NR
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Yogurt
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1 month
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NR
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Yogurt will separate if frozen.
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EGGS AND EGG PRODUCTS
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Eggs, fresh yolks or whites
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4 days
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12 months
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To freeze, break eggs out of shell; stir until yolk is well blended with white or other yolks. Add small amount of salt, sugar or corn syrup to improve keeping quality.
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Eggs, in shell, fresh
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3 weeks
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NR
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Eggs, in shell, hard-cooked
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1 week
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NR
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Decorated Easter eggs: If you intend to eat them, keep refrigerated. If eggs are at room temperature for more than 2 hours, do not eat them.
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Eggs, liquid pasteur. eggs or egg substitutes, opened
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4-5 days
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1 year
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Egg-containing products: canned puddings, opened
Custards, custard sauces, puddings, custard-filled pastries and cakes
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1-2 days
1-2 days
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NR
NR
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FRUITS
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Apples
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1-3 weeks
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8-12 months*
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Apricots, cranberries
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1 week
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8-12 months*
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Avocados
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3-5 days
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4-6 months*
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Bananas
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1-2 days, unpeeled
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4-6 months
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Peel, dip in lemon juice, tray freeze; store in freezer bag.
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Berries, cherries
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1-2 days
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8-12 months*
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Grapes, peaches, pears,
plums, and rhubarb
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3-5 days
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8-12 months*
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Canned fruits, opened
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3-5 days
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1-2 months
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Texture will be softer after freezing. Refrigerate in glass or plastic to avoid metallic taste.
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Citrus fruits
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3 weeks
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4-6 months*
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Wrap cut surfaces to prevent loss of Vitamin C.
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Dried fruit, cooked
uncooked
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3-5 days
6 months
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4-6 months
12 months
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Juices: canned, bottled, frozen concentrate
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1 week
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12 months
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Transfer canned juice to glass or plastic container after opening.
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Melons
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1 week
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8-12 months*
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Wrap cut surfaces to prevent Vitamin C loss, control odors.
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*Freeze all fruits in moisture- and vaporproof containers. Follow recommended procedures in fact sheet 9.331, Freezing Fruits.
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MEATS
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Fresh
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Bratwurst, fresh
precooked
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1-2 days
5-7 days
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2-3 months
2-3 months
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Meats may be left in the supermarket packaging for refrigerator storage or for very brief freezer storage. For frozen storage beyond two weeks, rewrap in moisture- and vaporproof wrap or freezer bags.
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Chops, lamb
pork, veal
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2-4 days
2-4 days
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6-9 months
4-6 months
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Ground beef, stew meat, ground pork, turkey, veal, lamb
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1-2 days
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3-4 months
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Roasts, beef
lamb
veal or pork
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2-4 days
2-4 days
2-4 days
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6-12 months
6-9 months
4-8 months
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Sausage: pork, beef, turkey
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1-2 days
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1-2 months
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Steaks, beef
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2-4 days
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6-12 months
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Variety meats
(tongue, liver, brains, heart, kidneys)
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1-2 days
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3-4 months
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Cooked
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Canned meat, opened
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2-3 days
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NR
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Cooked meat and meat dishes
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3-4 days
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2-3 months
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Quickly refrigerate all cooked meats and leftovers. Use as soon as possible. Cut large roasts into halves to cool in refrigerator. Fats tend to separate in homemade gravies, stews and sauces but usually recombine when heated.
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Gravy and meat broth
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1-2 days
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2-3 months
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Cool leftover gravy and broth quickly, in shallow containers, in the refrigerator.
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Processed and Cured
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Bacon
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5-7 days
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1 month
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Keep packaged meats in original package. For best quality, use within one week of "sell by" date.
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Corned beef: drained and wrapped
in pouch with pickling juice
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5-7 days
5-7 days
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1 month
NR
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Frankfurters
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7 days*
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1-2 months
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Frozen, cured meats lose quality rapidly; use as soon as possible.
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Ham, canned, unopened
half
whole
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8-12 months
3-5 days
7 days
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NR
1-2 months
1-2 months
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Small pieces of canned ham (opened) may be frozen for 4-6 weeks.
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Luncheon meats
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3-5 days*
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1-2 months
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Sausage, smoked
dry and semidry sausage
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7 days
2-3 weeks
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1-2 months
1-2 months
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*Storage time after vacuum-sealed package is opened. Unopened package may be kept two weeks or according to date on package.
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MISCELLANEOUS PERISHABLE ITEMS
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Baby food
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2-3 days
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See
comment
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Store covered. Do not feed baby from jar. Reheat only enough for 1 feeding. Freeze homemade baby food in ice cube trays, covered. Use in 2-4 weeks.
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Candies
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6 months
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6 months
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Chocolates may discolor.
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Casseroles
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1-2 days
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1 month
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Ground spices
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6 months*
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6-12 months
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Can be stored in cupboard.
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Salad dressings, opened
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6 months
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NR
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Sandwiches
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2-3 days
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1 month
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Soups, stews
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2-3 days
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4-6 months
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Soy milk
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1 week
after
opening
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1-3 months
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Unopened, aseptically packaged soy milk can be stored at room temperature for several months.
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Tofu
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1 week
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5 months
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Change storage water every day or two after opening.
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*Refrigeration is not necessary, but will help keep flavor fresher.
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POULTRY
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Fresh
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Chicken and turkey, whole
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1-2 days
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12 months
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Chicken, pieces
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1-2 days
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9 months
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Duck and goose, whole
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1-2 days
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6 months
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Giblets
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1-2 days
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3-4 months
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Turkey, pieces
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1-2 days
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6 months
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Cooked
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Canned poultry, opened
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1-2 days
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NR
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Quick-cool meat and broth separately in shallow containers. Add ice cubes to concentrated broth to speed cooling and to aid fat removal.
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Cooked poultry dishes
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3-4 days
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4-6 months
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Fried chicken
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3-4 days
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4 months
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Pieces, covered with broth
not in broth
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1-2 days
3-4 days
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6 months
1 month
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VEGETABLES
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Asparagus
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2-3 days
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8-12 months*
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Beans, green or wax; celery
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1 week
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8-12 months*
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Beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips
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1-2 weeks
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8-12 months*
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Broccoli, Brussels sprouts
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1 week
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8-12 months*
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Cauliflower
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1 week
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8-12 months*
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Corn, in husks
without husks
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1-2 days
1-2 days
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8-12 months*
NR
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Cucumbers
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1 week
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Lettuce, other salad greens
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1 week
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NR
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Store in bag or lettuce keeper.
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Mushrooms
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1-2 days
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8-12 months*
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Do not wash before refrigerator storage.
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Okra
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3-5 days
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8-12 months*
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Onions, green
mature
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3-5 days
1-2 weeks
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NR
3-6 months*
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Peas, lima beans, unshelled
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3-5 days
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8-12 months*
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Store unshelled in refrigerator until used.
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Peppers
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1 week
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8-12 months*
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Radishes
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2 weeks
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NR
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Tomatoes, canned, open
fresh, ripe
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1-4 days
5-6 days
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8-12 months*
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See 9.341, Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products.
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*Blanch fresh vegetables and freeze in moisture- and vaporproof materials..
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WILD GAME AND SEAFOOD
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Wild Game
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Rabbit, squirrel
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1-2 days
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6-12 months
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Venison
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2-4 days
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6-12 months
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Wild duck, pheasant, goose, whole
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1-2 days
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6 months
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Seafood
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Canned fish, seafood, opened
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1 day
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NR
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Clams, oysters (shucked) and scallops
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1-2 days
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3-4 months
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Store in coldest part of refrigerator. Do not use if liquid is frothy.
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Cooked fish
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1-2 days
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1 month
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Crab
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1-2 days
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2 months
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Lobster, shelled or not
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1-2 days
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6-12 months
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Fillets, fatty: mullet, ocean perch, sea perch, sea trout, striped bass
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1-2 days
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2-3 months
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Fillets, lean: cod, flounder, haddock
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1-2 days
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4-6 months
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Fresh water fish, cleaned
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1-2 days
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6-9 months
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Salmon steaks
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1-2 days
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2 months
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Shrimp
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1-2 days
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6-12 months
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Smoked fish
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1-2 weeks
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4-5 weeks
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NR: Not recommended.
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