Most food waste at home is food that quietly went past its best while nobody was looking. These guides give the usual fridge and freezer times for everyday foods, how to tell when something has gone off, and how to make it last.
Three rules that cover most of it
- Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below and the freezer at 0°F (-18°C).
- Do not leave cooked or cut food out for more than 2 hours (1 hour in hot weather).
- Label and date leftovers, and use or freeze them within 3 to 4 days.
The guides
- How long does milk last? Opened milk keeps about 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
- How long does eggs last? Raw eggs in the shell keep about 3 to 5 weeks in the fridge.
- How long does raw chicken last? Raw chicken keeps only 1 to 2 days in the fridge.
- How long does ground beef last? Raw ground beef keeps only 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
- How long does bacon last? An opened pack of bacon keeps about 7 days in the fridge, or about 1 month in the freezer.
- How long does bread last? Bread keeps about 3 to 5 days on the counter and about 3 months in the freezer.
- How long does butter last? Butter keeps about 1 to 3 months in the fridge and 6 to 9 months in the freezer.
- How long does cheese last? Opened hard cheese such as cheddar keeps about 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge.
- How long does yogurt last? Yogurt keeps about 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge, and up to the date on the pot if unopened.
- How long does leftovers last? Cooked leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
- How long does cooked rice last? Cooked rice keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge, but only if it is cooled quickly.
- How long does spinach last? Fresh spinach and other leafy greens keep about 3 to 7 days in the fridge, longer if kept dry.
- How long does strawberries last? Strawberries keep about 3 to 7 days in the fridge, longer if you do not wash them until you eat them.
General guidance only. These times are for food bought fresh and kept at 40°F (4°C) in the fridge or 0°F (-18°C) in the freezer. Your own fridge, the packaging and the state of the food always come first, and when in doubt, throw it out. The official US chart is on FoodSafety.gov.
Let the app do the remembering
Grocerr AI suggests a use-by date when you add food, reminds you before it goes off and shows what to use first. Get it free on the App Store.