Guide to Cupboard Fridge and Freezer Shelf Life

A shelf life guide to the foods in your fridge

If you keep your kitchen well-stocked, you may have found yourself extracting tins from the back of the pantry or grabbing a tray of meat from the freezer and wondering ‘how long has this been there?’. Or more to the point: ‘is this safe to eat?’

Once opened, the quality of packaged food begins to deteriorate and knowing how long it can last in the fridge or cupboard can be the difference between delicious and dangerous.  

In addition to shelf life, storing your food correctly is also important. While best before and use-by labels are an excellent guide, a carton of milk left on the bench instead of the fridge is going to spoil regardless of the use-by date.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the difference between use-by and best-before dates and explain how long you can keep food in your fridge, freezer and cupboard before it starts to spoil.

What’s the difference between use-by and best-before dates?

While they can sometimes be confused, there is an important difference between use-by and best-before dates.

A use-by date means food should be eaten or thrown away by the use-by date. Once the use-by date has passed, it is no longer advisable to consume the product because it may have spoiled to the point where it’s not safe to eat, or the flavour or texture may have changed. Manufacturers determine the use-by date based on food safety as well as flavour and quality.

A best-before date is more flexible. Best-before dates are designed to encourage you to eat a product while it is still fresh. However, food marked with a best-before date will typically keep for some time after the best-before date has passed.

Is it safe to eat frozen food past its use-by date?

Fresh food that has been frozen before the use-by date can be safe to eat for months after, however, the flavour, colour or texture may deteriorate over time. And while bacteria cannot grow in frozen food, if the product was contaminated at the time of freezing, it will still be contaminated when you thaw it.

Follow the guide below if you’re unsure about whether or not your food is safe to eat after thawing.

When to toss thawed frozen food:

  •       Smell: If the food smells rancid or ‘off’, discard it immediately.
  •       Texture: If the food is slimy or crumbly when it shouldn’t be, throw it away.
  •       Freezer burn: While the food may still be safe to eat, it will be dry and the texture will have changed.
  •       Colour: Changing colour isn’t always a sign food has gone bad, but if it’s coupled with a change in smell or texture, toss it out.

A shelf-life guide to the food in your fridge, freezer and cupboard

To help you better understand how long you can keep food before it goes off, we’ve put together a comprehensive shelf-life guide for fridge, freezer and cupboard items. These are recommended storing times and while food may still be safe to eat past the recommended shelf-life date, it may not taste the same.

food shelf life fridge life guide

The shelf life of meat products

Meat is highly perishable, so it’s important to eat it or freeze it before the use-by date. Once frozen, meat can last up to six months depending on the type.

General meat products

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Raw beef, lamb and steak Not recommended 3 days if wrapped, 5 days if unwrapped 6 months
Raw pork roast and lamb chops Not recommended 3 days if wrapped 4 months
Pork sausages and raw pork Not recommended 1-2 days 1-2 months
Roast beef and roast lamb Not recommended 2-3 days 6 months
Cooked steak Not recommended 2-3 days 6 months
Stewed meat and casseroles Not recommended 2-3 days 2-3 months
Beef mince Not recommended 2-3 days 2-3 months
Pre-packaged ham slices Not recommended 1-2 weeks if unopened, 4 days once opened 1-2 months
Sausages and salami Not recommended 1-2 weeks if unopened, 4 days once opened 1-2 months

Fish products

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Raw fish and prawns Not recommended 1-2 days 3-4 months
Cooked fish and prawns Not recommended 3-4 days 4-6 months
Cooked salmon Not recommended 1-2 weeks 2 months
Tinned tuna 12 months unopened 2 days in fridge once opened Not recommended
Crabs and oysters Not recommended 2 days 6 months

Poultry and other products

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Chicken mince and raw poultry Not recommended 2-3 days 3 months
Raw poultry – chicken, duck, turkey and goose Not recommended 1-2 days 3-6 months

 

Cooked poultry Not recommended 3-4 days – refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking 3-6 months
Cooked chicken nuggets Not recommended 1-2 days 1-3 months
Cooked poultry with stuffing Not recommended 1-2 days 1 month
Meat juice and gravy Not recommended 1-2 days 2-3 months
Tofu and meat substitutes Not recommended 4-5 days 6-8 weeks
Frozen dinners Not recommended 3-4 months; keep frozen

The shelf life of dairy products

Dairy products typically have a short shelf life and should be consumed by the use-by date. Most dairy products can safely be frozen, however, the texture may change when thawed.

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Milk Not recommended 1-2 weeks Not recommended
Cream Not recommended 5 days once opened Not recommended
Ice-cream Not recommended 1-2 months
Yoghurt Not recommended 1 week Not recommended
Hard cheeses Not recommended 1-3 months – varies by type Not recommended
Cottage and cream cheeses Not recommended 1-2 weeks Not recommended
Butter Not recommended 2 months Not recommended
Margarine Not recommended About 6 months
Condensed milk Varies, need to check the labelling when sealed Not recommended Not recommended

The shelf life of fat products

Many cooking oils can safely be stored in the cupboard for months after opening. Other fatty products, such as chocolate and peanut butter, can last up to two years if unopened.

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Vegetable oil 1-3 months opened, 6 months unopened Not recommended Not recommended
Salad oil 2months opened, 3 months unopened Not recommended Not recommended
Peanut butter 2-3 months opened; 6-9 months unopened 6 months opened Not recommended
Olive oil 1-2 weeks Not recommended Not recommended
Raw eggs Not recommended 5-6 weeks Do not freeze
Hard-boiled eggs/ cooked eggs Not recommended 1 week Do not freeze
Milk chocolate 7-8 months from opening, 10 months if unopened Only refrigerate if necessary Not recommended
Dark chocolate 1 year from opening, 2 years if unopened Only refrigerate if necessary Not recommended

The shelf life of grain, flour and wheat products

Some cupboard staples, such as flour, rice and pasta, can last up to two years if they’re properly stored. Other everyday items, such as bread and pastries, need to be consumed within a week or by the use-by date on the packaging.

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Cooked rice Not recommended 5-7 days Not recommended
Raw white rice 12 months Not recommended Not recommended
Raw brown rice 6 months, since they contain more natural oils Not recommended Not recommended
Pasta 6-12 months sealed, 2 months opened Not recommended Not recommended
Cereal 6-12 months sealed, 2 months opened Not recommended Not recommended
Bread 5-7 days 1-2 weeks (try to avoid storing in the fridge) Approximately 3 months
Cakes, cookies and muffins 1 week 1 week 3 months

The shelf life of canned and bottled goods

Fruits and vegetables have a short shelf life and most should be eaten within a week of purchasing. Some vegetables, such as potatoes and onions, can last up to two months, if stored in the fridge.

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Dried fruits and gravy powder Approx. 6 months sealed Not recommended Not recommended
Canned fruits and vegetables 12 months + sealed Not recommended Not recommended
Pate 3 weeks sealed, 5-7 days once opened Not recommended Not recommended
Mayonnaise/salad dressing Not recommended 2-3 months Do not freeze
Tomato/barbeque sauce 4-6 months 4-5 months Do not freeze
Bottled fruit juice 1-2 weeks Not recommended
Canned fruit juice 6 months max Not recommended Not recommended
Soft drink 6 months 6 months Not recommended
Baby food Approx. 6 months unopened 1-2 days once opened Do not freeze

The shelf life of fruits and vegetables

Eating fresh produce is a requirement of a healthy diet, yet a lot of people end up throwing away rotten fruits and veggies due to the rate at which they expire. To avoid this, consult the following two tables below, separated for fruit and vegetables.

Fruit

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Apples 4 days 1 month Not recommended
Avocadoes 3 days 3 days Not recommended
Bananas 7 days if green, 2-4 days if ripe Do not refrigerate as they will turn black in the cold Not recommended
Berries Not recommended 2-3 days Not recommended
Citrus 1-2 weeks 2 weeks + Not recommended
Grapes 3-5 days Not recommended Not recommended
Kiwi fruit 2-3 days to ripen 1 week once ripe Not recommended
Melons 1 week Not recommended
Peaches 1 day to ripen 3 days once ripe Not recommended
Pears 2 days to ripen 2 weeks once ripe Not recommended
Pineapple 2 days (whole pineapple) 1 week once cut Not recommended
Strawberries Not recommended 3 days if covered and isolated from other foods Not recommended
Watermelon 2-3 days 6-8 days Not recommended

Vegetables

Food Shelf life in cupboard Shelf life in fridge Shelf life in freezer
Pre-packaged frozen vegetables Not recommended 12 months in original packaging Not recommended
Canned vegetables Not recommended 3 days once opened Not recommended
Asparagus Not recommended 3-5 days Not recommended
Beans Not recommended 3-6 days Not recommended
Broccoli Not recommended 5-7 days Not recommended
Cabbage Not recommended 1-2 months Not recommended
Carrots Not recommended 1-3 months Not recommended
Capsicum Not recommended 1-2 weeks Not recommended
Cauliflower Not recommended 1-2 weeks Not recommended
Celery Not recommended 3-4 weeks Not recommended
Corn Not recommended 3 days Not recommended
Cucumber Not recommended 10-12 days Not recommended
Eggplants Not recommended 10-12 days Not recommended
Lettuce and mushrooms Not recommended 10-12 days Not recommended
Onions 1-3 months 1-3 months Not recommended
Peas Not recommended 5-6 days Not recommended
Sweet and white potatoes 2-4 months Do not refrigerate Not recommended
Tomatoes 2-5 weeks to ripen 5-7 days Not recommended

 

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In addition to this information above, there are a number of things you should know that are often necessary to maintain the lifespan and quality of your fruit and veggies:

  • Store apples in plastic and separate them from other fruits and veggies in the fridge. Apple gas turns things brown.
  • Keep all citrus fruits in plastic bags or containers, separate from other fruits and veggies.
  • Keep grapes in a covered bowl to retain their moisture.
  • Wrap melons tightly in cling wrap so their odour won’t contaminate other foods.
  • Wrap all tomatoes in paper if you want them to stay fresh in the fridge.
  • When storing veggies in plastic bags, poke a few holes in the bags to provide air circulation.
  • Always keep fruits and vegetables in separate produce sections of your fridge.
  • Never store potatoes and onions together, as they give off gases that can cause rapid decay of the other.
  • Don’t wash the veggies prior to putting them in the fridge. Only do this once you’re ready to eat them.

Eating foods that have passed their shelf lives can lead to food poisoning,  salmonella poisoning and other illnesses, so it is best you avoid doing so. Knowing the shelf life and expiry dates of the foods in your fridge is an easy way to avoid illness, although you can always learn to recognise the signs that your food is off as well.

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Original Author: Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito

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