Food Safety Expiration Dates
A food's expiration date is its "shelf life," and understanding it is key to safe eating. Fox News recently summarized the following safe expiration dates for major foods.
1. Meat: 2 days - 1 week. Fresh meats like fish, beef, pork, and poultry should not be refrigerated for more than two days. Ground meat should be used as soon as possible after purchase. Cooked meat can be refrigerated for a slightly longer time, but it's best to finish it within a week. Cooked pork chops should be eaten within three days, and unprocessed ham, bacon, or cured meats have a maximum shelf life of one week.
2. Condiments: 3 months - 1 year. Ketchup has a shelf life of 8-12 months; mayonnaise can be kept for 6 months; seasonings can last 1 year in the refrigerator; mustard can last 8 months in the fridge. Salad dressing can be stored for 9 months; opened soy sauce is best used up within 3 months; butter can be refrigerated for 1 year without spoiling; jam generally has a shelf life of 1 year.
3. Cooked Vegetables and Grains: 3-7 days. Cooked vegetables have a shorter shelf life; cooked broccoli should not be in the fridge for more than three days. Rice, broth, and leftovers should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than a week.
4. Alcohol: 3 days - 10 years. Beer can be kept for 3 months refrigerated, but no more than 1 month at room temperature. Red wine can be stored for decades in a cool, dark place, but once opened, it's best to refrigerate it. Rum, gin, vodka, whiskey, and brandy do not have expiration dates.
5. Canned Food: 1-2 years. If stored in a cool, dry place, canned food generally has a shelf life of 1 year, sometimes longer. Once opened, if the canned food smells sour, it should be thrown away immediately. If the can is bulging, it has already spoiled.
6. Frozen Food: 1 month - 1 year. Frozen food does not have an indefinite shelf life. Ice cream and popsicles have a shelf life of 1 month. A whole frozen chicken can last up to 1 year. Frozen vegetables and frozen bread last 3 months, ground beef lasts 4 months frozen, and chicken breasts and wings can be frozen for up to 9 months.