When points in the fridge start to mold, ooze, or smell, you know it’s time to throw them out. However how perform you avoid getting to the point?
How long do leftovers last?
According to the FDA Food Code, all perishable foodstuffs that are opened up or prepared should be thrown the end after 7 days, maximum. No leftovers have to survive in your fridge for longer than that. Some foodstuffs should be even be thrown away before the 7 job mark. Refer to expiration dates and food security guidelines come know just how to handle certain foods. The chart below from Foodsafety.gov is a beneficial guide because that food in the fridge.
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How to make leftover food critical longer
If you want your leftovers to last longer, frozen them. Just be sure to save track of exactly how long you had actually it in the fridge before you put it in the freezer. Freezing stop bacterial growth in that tracks prefer a car at a red light. Once you thaw your food, however, the light turns green and also bacterial growth continues from wherein it left off. So, follow to the chart below, steak that was in the refrigerator for 3 days prior to it to be frozen will be an excellent for 1 to 2 days after it is thawed. Remember that frozen foodstuffs are safe indefinitely, therefore the adhering to guidelines because that freezer food describe food quality, not safety.
Check out our graph to watch if there’s any type of food in your fridge or freezer that needs to it is in thrown out.
| Category | Food | Refrigerator(40 °F or below) | Freezer(0 °F or below) |
| Salads | Egg, chicken, ham, tuna, & macaroni salads | 3 to 5 days | Does no freeze well |
| Hot dogs | Opened package | 1 week | 1 come 2 months |
| Unopened package | 2 weeks | 1 come 2 months | |
| Lunch meat | Opened parcel or deli sliced | 3 to 5 days | 1 come 2 months |
| Unopened package | 2 weeks | 1 come 2 months | |
| Bacon & sausage | Raw bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Raw sausage made from chicken, turkey, pork, or beef | 1 come 2 days | 1 come 2 months | |
| Hamburger & various other ground meats | Raw hamburger, ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb, & mixtures of them | 1 to 2 days | 3 come 4 months |
| Raw beef, veal, lamb, & pork | Steaks | 3 to 5 days | 6 come 12 months |
| Chops | 3 come 5 days | 4 come 6 months | |
| Roasts | 3 come 5 days | 4 to 12 months | |
| Raw poultry | Chicken or turkey, whole | 1 come 2 days | 1 year |
| Chicken or turkey, pieces | 1 come 2 days | 9 months | |
| Soups & Stews | Vegetable or meat added | 3 come 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Leftovers | Cooked meat or poultry | 3 come 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Chicken nuggets or patties | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 3 months | |
| Pizza | 3 to 4 days | 1 come 2 months |
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Download and also print: click on the image over to download and print the end the infographic.Learn around this and much more in the rebab.net Food Handler Course.
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Editor’s note: This write-up was originally published in January 2014 and has to be updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.