Food Storage Tips
FOODS | REFRIGERATOR | FREEZER | STORAGE TIPS | |
VEGETABLES |
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Asparagus | 1 to 2 days | 8 to 10 months | Do not wash before refrigerating. | |
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| Store in crisper. | |
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Brussels sprouts, broccoli, | 3 to 5 days | 8 to 10 months | Wrap odorous foods. | |
cauliflower, green peas, |
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| Leave peas in pods. | |
lima beans, onions, peppers |
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Cabbage, celery | 1 to 2 weeks | Not recommended | Wrap odorous foods and refrigerate | |
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| in crisper. | |
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Carrots, parsnips, beets and | 7 to 10 days | 8 to 10 months | Remove tops. Wrap odorous foods | |
turnips |
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| and refrigerate in the crisper. | |
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Lettuce | 7 to 10 days | Not recommended |
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POULTRY and FISH |
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Chicken and Turkey, whole | 1 to 2 days | 12 months | Keep in original packaging for | |
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| refrigeration. Place in the meat and | |
Chicken and Turkey, pieces | 1 to 2 days | 9 months | ||
cheese drawer. When freezing longer | ||||
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Fish | 1 to 2 days | 2 to 6 months | ||
than two weeks, overwrap with | ||||
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| freezer wrap. | |
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MEATS |
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Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
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Beef or lamb, ground | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months | Fresh meats can be kept in original | |
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| packaging for refrigeration. | |
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Beef or lamb, roast and steak | 3 to 5 days | 6 to 9 months | Place in the meat and cheese drawer. | |
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| When freezing longer than two | |
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| weeks, overwrap with freezer wrap. | |
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Ham, fully cooked, whole | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
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half | 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
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slices | 3 days | 1 to 2 months |
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Luncheon meat | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months | Unopened, | |
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| meat may be kept up to two weeks | |
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| in the meat and cheese drawer. | |
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Pork, roast | 3 to 5 days | 4 to 6 months |
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Pork, chops | 3 to 5 days | 4 months |
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Sausage, ground | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 months |
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Sausage, smoked | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
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Veal | 3 to 5 days | 4 to 6 months |
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Frankfurters | 7 days | 1 month | Processed meats should be tightly | |
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| wrapped and stored in the meat and | |
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| cheese drawer. | |
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Sources: United States Department of Agriculture; Food Marketing Institute; Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University
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