
FoodStorageTips
Food Storage Chart
Storage times are approximate and may vary depending on type of packaging, storage temperature, and the quality of the food when purchased.
| DAI RY PRODUCTS | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | |||||
| Butter | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 1 month | 6 to | 9 months | Wrap | tightly | or cover. | 
 | 
 | ||||||
| Milk and cream | 
 | 1 week | 
 | Not | recommended | Check carton date. Close tightly. | |||||||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | Don't return unused portions to | |||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | original | container. | Don't freeze | |||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | cream | 
 | unless | whipped. | 
 | 
 | ||
| Cream | cheese, cheese | 1 to 2 weeks | Not | recommended | Wrap | tightly. | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | ||||||||
| spread | and cheese food | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | ||||
| Cottage | cheese | 
 | 3 to | 5 days | Not | recommended | Store | in original | carton. | 
 | |||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | Check | 
 | carton | date. | 
 | 
 | ||
| Sour | cream | 
 | 
 | 
 | 10 days | Not | recommended | Store | in original | carton. | 
 | ||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | Check | 
 | carton | date. | 
 | 
 | ||
| Hard | cheese | 
 | 
 | 
 | 1 to | 2 months | 4 to | 6 months | Wrap | tightly. | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | ||||
| (Swiss, Cheddar | and Parmesan) | 
 | 
 | 
 | May | become | Cut off | any | mold. | 
 | 
 | 
 | |||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | crumbly | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | |
| EGGS | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
| Eggs | in the | shell | 
 | 3 weeks | Not | recomnlended | Refrigerate | small | ends | down. | |||||||||
| Leftover | yolks | or whites | 2 to/4 | days | 9 to | 12 months | For each cup | of yolks | to be frozen, | ||||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | add 1 tsp. sugar for use in sweet, or | |||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 1 tsp. salt for  | |||||||
| FRUITS | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | |
| Apples | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 1 month | 8 months | (cooked) | May also store unripe or hard apples | |||||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | at 60° to 70° F (16° to | 21° C). | ||||||
| Bananas | 
 | 
 | 
 | 2 to/4 | days | 6 months | 
 | Ripen | 
 | at room | temperature | before | |||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | (whole/peeled] | refrigerating. | 
 | Note: Bananas | will | ||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | darken | when | refrigerated. | 
 | ||||
| Pears, plums, | avocados | 3 to/4 | days | Not | recommended | Ripen | 
 | at room | temperature | before | |||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | refrigerating. | 
 | Note: Avocados will | |||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | darken | when | refrigerated. | 
 | ||||
| Berries, | cherries, | apricots | 2 to 3 | days | 6 months | 
 | Ripen | 
 | at room | temperature | before | ||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | refrigerating. | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | ||
| Grapes | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 3 to | 5 days | 1 month | (whole) | Ripen | 
 | at room | temperature | before | ||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | refrigerating. | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | ||
| Citrus | fruits | 
 | 
 | 
 | 1 to | 2 weeks | Not | recommended | May also store at 60° to 70° F | ||||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 06 ° to | 21° C). | 
 | 
 | 
 | |||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | If refrigerated, | store uncovered. | ||||||
| Pineapples, | cut | 
 | 2 to 3 | days | 6 to | 12 months | Will not ripen after purchase. | ||||||||||||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | Use quickly. | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | ||
19
