You’ve just returned from a quick trip to your neighborhood warehouse store where you stocked up on raw meat. However, you don’t feel like putting the meat into the freezer right away because your feet hurt and your legs are tired. Here are some suggestions for how long to keep raw meat in the refrigerator.
We’ve definitely been guilty of leaving those chicken thighs in the fridge just a couple days too long. So how long does meat last in the fridge? Read on to learn how to store all kinds of meat safely.
In the refrigerator (at a temperature of 40°F or lower), raw poultry, whether it be chicken or turkey, only lasts one to two days, but it can last up to a year in the freezer (at a temperature of 0°F or lower). To prevent any leakage from affecting other foods, it is best to store raw chicken at the bottom of the refrigerator. Depending on the cut, cooked poultry lasts three to five days in the refrigerator and shouldn’t be frozen for more than two to six months. If you’re concerned, look for indicators of bad chicken, such as a sour smell or graying skin.
Red meat, including beef and pork, can be frozen for up to four months and refrigerated for up to five days. These should never be kept at a temperature above 40oF and are best kept on the coldest shelf of the refrigerator. Steaks should be tightly wrapped and frozen to prevent exposure to moisture and air. Meat that has been cooked and is left over will keep for three to four days in the fridge and two to six months in the freezer. It is possible to refreeze meat if you have too much after it has been thawed, but it is best to keep the amount to a minimum. Your red meat should be thrown out if it has a strong odor or feels slimy or sticky to the touch.
Ground meats like beef, veal, pork, or poultry can be frozen for three to four months after being refrigerated for one to two days. Cooked ground meat can be stored in the freezer for two to three months and the refrigerator for three to four days. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that ground meat should be wrapped in freezer paper, heavy-duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or plastic bags designed for freezing if it is going to be frozen. Your raw ground meat should not be used if it smells rancid, is slimy to the touch, or has turned brown or gray.
Hot dogs should be consumed within three to five days of opening, though they may be able to go a couple of days longer. Hot dogs will last two weeks in the refrigerator if they are kept unopened. In the freezer, they’ll last one to two months. Once cooked, hot dogs can be frozen for up to four months or kept in the refrigerator for three to five days. They’ve probably gone bad if they smell bad, feel slimy, or have milky liquid in the package.
Sliced lunch meat from the deli, such as turkey, pastrami, and ham, should be consumed within three to five days of opening and will keep for two weeks in the refrigerator if unopened. They can also be kept for one to two months in the freezer. You should discard the meat if it is extremely slimy or smells like ammonia, vinegar, or yeast.
If you won’t be eating any raw sausage soon, you can freeze it for up to a month since it should only be kept in the fridge for two days at most. Depending on the type of sausage, it may even last up to two months in the freezer. The shelf life of cooked sausage is three to four days in the refrigerator and two to three months in the freezer. It’s probably best to toss your sausage in the trash if it smells bad or has a slimy coating.
Bacon can be safely frozen for a month and kept for up to a week in the refrigerator. In the refrigerator, cooked bacon can be stored for four to five days, and it can be frozen for two to three months. It’s probably best to discard your bacon if it smells fishy, sour, or otherwise unpleasant, is gray or brown in color with blue or green undertones, or feels slimy.
Here’s how to properly store eggs if you intend to cook some with your bacon. Raw eggs can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a month, but hard-boiled eggs should only be kept for a week. Only beaten eggs (yolks and whites) or raw egg whites shouldn’t be frozen (i e. , not complete eggs), and they can be stored for up to a year. When refrigerated, egg substitutes and separated egg whites or yolks should be consumed within two to four days. For up to a year, cooked eggs can be frozen in breakfast burritos or tacos, but hard-boiled eggs should never be frozen. Try the float test to determine whether eggs are still fresh.
Deli salads like chicken, tuna, egg, or pasta salad will keep in the fridge for three to five days. Although these can be frozen for up to a week in an airtight container, freezing is typically not advised because it can significantly alter the texture depending on the ingredients. Because salads frequently contain multiple ingredients, keep an eye on each one. If the meat appears slimy or smells rancid, or if the vegetables appear limp, discolored, or start to mold, throw the entire salad away right away.
Salmon should only be kept raw in the refrigerator for one or two days, but cooked fish can be kept there for three to four days. Raw fish can be frozen, but it should be consumed within three to eight months as it will start to lose flavor and texture after that. In your freezer, cooked fish will keep for up to two months. Fresh fish sparkles; if yours has slimy, milky flesh or starts to smell overly fishy or rotten, it’s best to throw it away.
When raw, shellfish like shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two days. With the exception of mussels, which should only be kept for three to four days, shellfish that completely close their shells, like clams, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days. The quality of all raw shellfish should remain unaltered for up to three months in the freezer. Cooked shrimp can be stored for three to four days in the refrigerator and up to three months in the freezer. Your shrimp has probably gone bad and should be thrown away if the bodies of the shrimp inside the shell appear loose or if the shell has black spots. A slightly open shell, a smashed or broken shell, or an overly fishy odor can all be signs that your shellfish has gone bad in the case of shells that close tightly like clams and mussels.
Learn how long meat, produce, and condiments last in the refrigerator.
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Ask the Test Kitchen: How Long Will Meat Last in the Fridge?
FAQ
How long can I keep raw beef in the fridge?
Fresh beef, veal, lamb, and porkSteaks3 to 5 daysChops3 to 5 daysRoasts3 to 5 daysHamFresh, uncured, uncooked3 to 5 daysCold food storage chartFoodTypeRefrigerator (40 °F or below)
Can I eat cooked beef after 7 days?
Cooked ground beef can remain safe to consume for a few days in the refrigerator before it becomes spoiled. However, it is best to discard it if it has been there for more than seven days or displays signs of spoilage, such as off flavors, color changes, or mold growth.
Is ground beef good after 3 days in fridge?
Ground beef can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days, but it must be consumed within four days. Ground beef can be kept in the freezer for up to 4 months. The minimum internal temperature for ground beef, as determined by a food thermometer, is 160°F (71°C).
How do you store raw beef in the fridge?
Ensure that raw meat is kept on a plate with plastic wrap or another airtight covering. In the refrigerator, raw meat usually lasts for one to two days.