Food Safety – Storing Meats

Food safety starts with storing your food correctly.  How you store your meats can be the difference between a good meal or a trip to the hospital…

Meats that have been cooked (including deli meats) can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days and in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

Processed meats, such as cold cuts, can be stored in the refrigerator only until the date on the package.  It is not recommended that you store these types of meat in the freezer.

Cured bacon can be stored 3 to 5 days after opening and frozen for up to 1 month.

Hot Dogs will be okay 5 to 7 days after opening and can be frozen for 1 to 2 months.

Canned Ham, unopened, will be okay up to 2 weeks, after opening, from the package date.  Even if frozen, do not eat after the date on the package.

Uncooked chops can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days and 4 to 6 months in the freezer.

Ground meats can be stored 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in freezer.

Roasts and steaks will be okay 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 6 to 12 months in the freezer.

Poultry can be stored 3 to 4 days in frig and 4 months in freezer if it is cooked.  This includes poultry that has been purchased at the deli.

Uncooked poultry that has been cut up will be okay 1 to 2 days in the frig and up to 9 months in the freezer.

Uncooked, whole birds can be stored in the frig for 1 to 2 days and up to 12 months in the freezer.

Uncooked fish can be stored 1 to 2 days in the frig and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

Shellfish, cooked, will be okay 3 to 4 days in the frig and 1 to 2 months in the freezer.

Shellfish, uncooked, will be okay 1 to 2 days in frig and 3 to 4 months in freezer.