Cold Storage Limits
Many students have refrigerators in their apartments or dorm rooms. This simple list will help you know when to toss it out, even if it hasn't "grown green mold" all over it.
| Products | Refrigerator (40 degrees F) | Freezer (0 degrees F) |
| Eggs in shell | 3-5 weeks | do not freeze |
| Eggs - Hard cooked | 1 week | do not freeze |
| Liquid pasteurized egg substitutes | unopened 10 days, opened 3 days | 1 year |
| Mayonnaise, commercial brand | 2 months | do not freeze |
| Prepared Salads (egg, chicken, tuna) | 3-5 days | do not freeze |
| Processed meats | ||
| Hot dogs | opened 1 wk, unopened 2 wks | 2 months |
| Bacon | 1 wk | 1 month |
| Raw sausage - beef, pork, turkey | 2 days | 2 months |
| Hard sausage - pepperoni, jerky | 3 wks | 2 months |
| Canned ham | 5 days opened, unopened 9 months | do not freeze |
| Fully cooked ham | 7 days | 2 months |
| Fresh Meats | ||
| All ground meats, mixtures, stew | 2 days | 4 months |
| Beef, veal, port chops | 3-5 days | 12 months |
| Stuffed chops, breasts | 1 day | do not freeze |
| Fresh Poultry - chicken or turkey | 2 days | 1 year |
| Cooked Leftovers | 4 days | 4 months |
POWER OUTAGE Here's a rule of thumb of when to save food or when to toss it.
IN THE FREEZER - If the food still contains ice crystals or feels cold as if refrigerated with frozen spots inside, you can refreeze. If they have thawed and the temp has been over 40 degrees for more than two hours, then discard it. Pitch ice cream and frozen yogurt in either case.
IN THE REFRIGERATOR - If the temp goes above 40 degrees for more
than two hours, discard the following:
Fresh or leftover poultry, meat, fish or seafood, gravy, stuffing,
lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, pizza, canned hams, cheese,
milk, cream, buttermilk, yogurt, casseroles, soups, or stews.
For further information: See Food Safety and Inspection Service - www.fsis.usda.gov or call 1-800-535-4555.