How long will it keep?

[Guest guest]

How long will it keep?

By Sue Dawson

Dispatch Food Editor

March 29, 2000

You uncover a package of meat in the bottom of the freezer dated June

1997. You wonder, " Is it still good " ?

You start to make a cake and notice the box of baking soda has faded.

You ask yourself, " Should I use it or buy a new box " ?

Common questions. Common quandaries. Just how long does food last?

We've compiled a guide to answer that question. Print it off and tape it

to the back of your cupboard, but keep in mind that it's only general. A

lot of variables affect perishability: When was it harvested? How

quickly was it chilled or canned? How long was it in the warehouse? Is

your refrigerator always at 37 degrees or below, and your freezer at

zero or below?

Fortunately, food often signals when it isn't good. Mold forms on top.

It smells sour or rancid. It dries out and forms a crust. It separates,

weeps or becomes soggy.

If there are no obvious signs, remember the adage, " When in doubt, throw

it out. "

FoodRefrigerator

37 degrees or belowPantryFreezer

0 degrees or belowBacon (opened)7 days

1 mo. Beef Corned 5-7 days Dried 10-12

days Ground 1-2 days 2-3 mos. Roasts 2-4 days 6-12

mos.Steaks2-3 days 6-9 mos. Bread Soft

(yeast) Sliced 2-4 days4 mos.Unsliced 5-7 days6-9 mos.Sweet

rolls 4-7 days3 mos.Quick breads 4-7 days3 mos.Hard (yeast) 2

days3 mos.Preservative-free 1-3 days4 mos.Tortillas 2-4 days4

mos.Pita 2-4 days4 mos. Butter1-2 wks. 6-9

mos. Cakes 1-2 days2-3 mos.Cheesecake7-10 days 2-3

mos.Cake mixes 9-12 mos. Canned

foods (unopened) 12 mos. (opened) Baby foods2-3

days Fish2 days Fruit1 wk. Pasta sauce5

days Vegetables3 days Cereal Cooked 6

mos. Ready-to-eat (unopened) 6-12 mos. (opened) 2-3

mos. Cheese Cottage5 days Cream2

wks. Cheddar (unopened)3-6 mos. (opened)3-4

wks. (sliced)2 wks. Parmesan (unopened) 10 mos.

(opened)2 mos. Ricotta5 days Processed cheese

(opened)3-4 wks. Chicken2-3 days 10

mos. Chocolate Cocoa 18 mos. Semisweet 1 1/2-2

yrs. Unsweetened 1 1/2-2 yrs. Syrup (unopened) 2

yrs. (opened)6 mos. Coffee (unopened) 2

yrs. (opened)2 wks. Condiments Ketchup,

chili & BBQ sauces (unopened) 12 mos. (opened)4-6

mos. Mustard (unopened) 2 yrs. (opened)6-12

mos. Pickles, chutneys (unopened) 12 mos. (opened)1-2

mos. Seasoning sauces Worcestershire, steak,

hot pepper(opened) 12 mos. Salsas1 mo.12

mos. Cookies Homemade 2-3 wks.3 mos.Packaged 2

mos.3 mos. Crackers (unopened) 8

mos. (opened) 1 mo. Cream Liquid10 days 2

mos.Sour cream2-4 wks. Frozen topping, thawed2

wks. Dried beans, lentils 12

mos. Ethnic ingredients Fresh lemongrass1

wk. Bean sauce (opened)12 mos. Fermented black

beans (opened)12 mos. Chili paste (opened)12

mos. Sesame paste (opened)12 mos. Fish

sauce (opened) 12 mos. Soy sauce (opened) 12

mos. Dried mushrooms 12 mos. Dried chilies 12 mos. Won-ton

wrappers5 days 3 mos. Eggs Raw3-4

wks. Hard-cooked1 wk. Fish1-2 days 3-6

mos. Flour Bran 1 mo.2-3 mos.Oat 1 mo.2-3

mos.Rye 1 mo.2-3 mos.Soy 1 mo.2-3 mos.White 6-12 mos.12

mos.Whole-wheat6-8 mos.1 mo.12 mos. Fruit

(fresh) Apples3-4 wks. Apricots2-3 days Asian pears2-4

wks. Berries1-2 days 12 mos.Blueberries1-2 wks. 12

mos.Cherimoya1-2 days Cherries1-2 days 12 mos.Citrus2-3

wks. Figs1-2 days Grapes3-5 days Mangoes3-5 days 12

mos.Melons1 wk. Peaches3-5 days 12 mos.Pears3-5

days Persimmons1-2 days Pineapples3-5 days 12 mos.Plums3-5

days Prickly pears1-2 days Rhubarb3-5 days 12

mos.Strawberries3-5 days 12 mos.

FoodRefrigerator

37 degrees or belowPantryFreezer

0 degrees or belowHam1 wk. 2 mos.Canned (unopened)6

mos. Honey 12 mos. Frozen

entrees 3 mos. Ice cream 2

mos. Jellies (unopened) 12 mos. (opened)6

mos. Juices Canned (unopened) 9

mos. (opened)7 days Frozen conc.7-10 days 12 mos.Juice

boxes (unopened) 4-6 mos. (opened)7-10

days Leftovers Cooked veggies3-4

days Cooked meats3-4 days Cooked poultry1-2 days Cooked

seafood2 days Meat casseroles3-4 days Soups, stews3-4

days Stuffing, broth1-2

days Lettuce Head5-7 days Leafy greens1-2

days Lunch meats (opened)5-7 days Hot

dogs4-5 days Margarine4-6 mos. 12

mos. Mayonnaise (unopened) 2-3 mos. (opened)2

mos. Milk Buttermilk7-10 days Condensed

or evaporated 12 mos. (opened)4-5 days Fresh7

days Soy fresh4-5 days aseptic (unopened) 12

mos. (opened)4-5 days Nuts (in shell) 3-6

mos. (vacuum-canned) 1 year (opened)3-6 mos.2 wks.9-12

mos. Onions 3-4 wks. Pantry

staples Baking powder 6 mos. Baking soda 18

mos. Bouillon 12 mos. Cornmeal 12 mos. Cornstarch 12-18

mos. Cream of tartar 12 mos. Extracts (unopened) 2

yrs. (opened) 12 mos. Gelatin 18

mos. Pasta (dry) 2 yrs. (fresh)2-3

days Peanut butter (unopened) 6-9

mos. (opened) 2-3 mos. Pies Fruit4-5

days 1-2 mos.Custard2-3 days Pumpkin 4-5 days 2 mos.Unbaked

fruit 8 mos. Popcorn (unpopped) 2

yrs. Pork Chops2-3 days 2-3 mos.Ground1-2

days 1-2 mos.Roasts2-4 days 3-6 mos.Sausage2-3 days 1-2

mos. Potatoes White 2-3 mos. Sweet 1-2

wks. Pudding (prepared)1-2 days (dry

mix) 12 mos. Rice Brown6 mos.1 mo. White 2

yrs. Flavored or herb 6 mos. Salad

dressings (unopened) 10-12 mos. (opened)3

mos. Shortening (opened)8

mos. Spices & herbs Whole spices 1-2

yrs. Ground spices 6 mos. Seeds 3-6 mos.12 mos.Dried herbs 6

mos. Fresh herbs3-5 days Fresh gingerroot1 wk. 3

mos. Tea Loose leaves 2 yrs. Bags 18

mos. Herbal 6-9 mos. Brewed2-3

days Tofu (opened)2-3

days Vegetable oils (unopened) 6-12

mos. (opened) 6 mos. Olive (opened) 4

mos. Vegetables Fresh Asparagus3-4

days Beets1-2 wks. Broccoli3-5 days Brussels sprouts3-5

days Cabbage1-2 wks. Carrots1-2 wks. Cauliflower3-5

days Cucumbers3-5 days Greens1-2 days Sweet corn1-2

days Peppers3-5 days Frozen 8-10

mos. Vinegar 2 yrs. Yogurt7-10 days

Sources: Ohio State University and Michigan State University Extensions,

Food Marketing Institute and Keeping Food Fresh by Janet (Harper

& Row, 1989).