Food Storage Guidelines: How Long Can You Keep Food in the Fridge?

Wondering if those leftovers are still good? What about that meat? Or milk? Our infographic breaks down the shelf life of common refrigerated items and offers up tips for keeping food fresh.

Because sell-by dates often aren't reliable indicators of when something has gone bad, it can be difficult to know how long is too long when it comes to an item’s shelf life. These need-to-know food storage guidelines will help keep you healthy and your fridge fresh.

Tips to keep food fresh longer

Follow this expert advice to help keep food fresh for longer in your fridge:

• Keep your fridge temp at or below 40°F, and set your freezer to 0ºF.
• Don’t slice foods until you’re ready to eat them.
• Store leafy vegetables with humidity control set on high.
• Store fruits with humidity controls set on low.
• Don’t store meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables in the same crisper.
• Don’t put easily perishable items in the fridge door, where the temp is warmer.
• Store leftovers in airtight containers.
• Avoid overcrowding, as this can block cold air circulation and cause warm spots.

Be sure to plan ahead for the week to prevent food loss, and don’t forget to organize your fridge in the most effective way.

Refrigerator Storage Times

How long do those eggs last? Should you toss that hamburger meat? Our fridge storage timeline has the answers.

Dairy

Opened Milk: 3-5 days
Opened Cheese: 2-3 weeks

Eggs

Fresh: 2-5 weeks
Products with eggs: 1-2 days

Deli Meat

Unopened: 2 weeks
Opened: 3-5 days

Meat

Steaks, chops, roasts: 3-5 days
Ground meat: 1-2 days

Poultry

Whole or parts: 1-2 days
Leftover cooked meat and poultry: 3-4 days

Fish

Raw fish and shellfish: 1-2 days
Leftover cooked seafood: 3-4 days

Vegetables

Beans, cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, peppers: 1 week
Beets, celery, corn on the cob, carrots: 2 weeks

Fruit

Berries: 2-3 days
Avocados: 7-10 days
Citrus: 3 weeks

Always stay safe when handling food. When in doubt, throw it out.