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Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart:
Cold Storage Temperatures
| Minnesota Department of Health Consumer Fact Sheet Revised April, 2007 |
 |
Download a print version of this document:
Cold Storage Temperatures (PDF)
Cold Storage Chart
This chart gives short, conservative storage times to protect you from food spoilage (what you risk in long refrigeration) and from taste loss (what happens when food is left too long in the freezer).
| Product |
Refrigerator (Days at 40°F) |
Freezer (Months at 0°F) |
|
| Eggs | |||
| liquid pasteurized eggs (unopened) | 3 to 10 | 12 | |
| fresh in shell | 21 | don’t freeze | |
| raw yolk and whites | 2 to 4 | 12 | |
| hard cooked | 7 | don’t freeze | |
| Fresh meats | |||
| beef | 3 to 5 | 6 to 12 | |
| lamb | 3 to 5 | 6 to 9 | |
| pork | 3 to 5 | 4 to 8 | |
| veal | 3 to 5 | 4 to 8 | |
| hamburger | 1 to 2 | 3 to 4 | |
| sausage | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | |
| Cooked meats | |||
| meat dishes | 3 to 4 | 2 to 3 | |
| gravy, broth | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 | |
| Processed meat | |||
| bacon | 7 | 1 | |
| franks | 7 | 1 to 2 | |
| ham | 3 to 5 | 1 to 2 | |
| lunch meat | 3 to 5 | 1 to 2 | |
| Fresh poultry (all) | 1 to 2 | 6 to 9 | |
| Cooked poultry | |||
| in broth | 1 to 2 | 6 | |
| pieces | 3 to 4 | 1 | |
| hotdish | 3 to 4 | 4 to 6 | |
| fried chicken | 3 to 4 | 4 | |
| Game | |||
| deer | 3 to 5 | 6 to 12 | |
| rabbit | 1 to 2 | 12 | |
| duck, goose | 1 to 2 | 6 | |
| Mayonnaise | 60 | don’t freeze | |
| TV dinners | 6 | ||
| Deli salad (egg, tuna, macaroni) | 3 to 5 | don’t freeze | |
|
Soups, stews |
3 to 5 | 2 to 3 | |
More on Freezing and Food Safety
- Freezing and Food Safety: USDA
More information and cold storage from the USDA. - Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart (PDF): USFDA
Since product dates aren’t a guide for safe use of a product, consult this chart and follow these tips. These short but safe time limits will help keep refrigerated food from spoiling or becoming dangerous.
Last Updated: 02/06/2023