How long food keeps
USDA's fridge and freezer times for leftovers, and how long each of our recipes keeps, from its own storage note.
The rules that matter
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour when it is above 90°F (a hot car, a picnic). (source)
- Keep the fridge at 40°F or colder and the freezer at 0°F. (source)
- Split big batches into shallow containers so they cool quickly. Hot food can go straight into the fridge. (source)
- Eat refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days. When in doubt, throw it out: you can't see, smell or taste the bacteria that make people sick. (source)
USDA storage times for cooked food
| Food | Fridge (40°F or colder) | Freezer (0°F, for best quality) |
|---|---|---|
| Egg, chicken, ham, tuna and macaroni salads | 3 to 5 days | Does not freeze well |
| Pizza | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Soups and stews, with or without meat | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Cooked fish and seafood | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 6 months |
| Cooked meat and poultry | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Other cooked dishes (casseroles, grains, beans, vegetables, eggs) | 3 to 4 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Hard-cooked eggs | 1 week | Does not freeze well |
| Raw egg whites or yolks | 2 to 4 days | 12 months |
| Ham, fully cooked, slices | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
From FoodSafety.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with USDA): Cold Food Storage Chart and USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: Leftovers and Food Safety. Freezer times are for quality; food kept at 0°F stays safe.
How long our recipes keep
Each recipe's own note, never longer than the USDA time for its kind of food. Open a group to see its recipes.
Egg, chicken, ham, tuna and macaroni salads 3 recipes · USDA: fridge 3 to 5 days
| Recipe | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Creamy Chicken Salad Sandwiches | 3 days | – |
| Classic Creamy Egg Salad Sandwich | 3 days | – |
| Classic Tuna Salad Sandwich | 3 days | – |
Pizza 2 recipes · USDA: fridge 3 to 4 days
| Recipe | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade Margherita Pizza | 4 days | 1 month |
| Mini Pizza Bagels | 3 days | – |
Soups and stews, with or without meat 22 recipes · USDA: fridge 3 to 4 days
Cooked fish and seafood 15 recipes · USDA: fridge 3 to 4 days
| Recipe | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Baked Cod with Lemon Herb Crumbs | 2 days | – |
| Blackened Fish Tacos with Lime Slaw | 2 days | – |
| Crispy Oven-Baked Fish Tacos (best fresh) | – | – |
| Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi with Linguine (best fresh) | 2 days | – |
| Grilled Garlic Lemon Shrimp Skewers | 3 days | – |
| Lemon Butter Baked Salmon | 2 days | – |
| Linguine with Clams in White Wine Garlic Sauce (best fresh) | 1 day | – |
| Maple Dijon Baked Salmon | 2 days | – |
| Seared Scallops with Brown Butter and Lemon (best fresh) | – | – |
| Shrimp Fried Rice | 3 days | – |
| Shrimp Pad Thai | 3 days | – |
| Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles (best fresh) | – | – |
| Steamed Mussels in Coconut Curry Broth (best fresh) | 2 days (the broth) | – |
| Steamed Mussels in White Wine and Garlic (best fresh) | 1 day | – |
| Thai-Inspired Red Curry with Shrimp and Sweet Potato | 2 days | – |
Cooked meat and poultry 108 recipes · USDA: fridge 3 to 4 days
Other cooked dishes (casseroles, grains, beans, vegetables, eggs) 86 recipes · USDA: fridge 3 to 4 days
Baked goods, desserts, drinks and no-cook dishes 106 recipes
- Freeze, thaw and reheatSafe ways to freeze, thaw and reheat, and which recipes freeze well.
- Freezer mealsCook once, eat twice: double it, freeze half, and print freezer labels.
- Use up leftoversRecipes for leftover rice, chicken, bread, buttermilk, herbs and more.
Sources
- FoodSafety.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with USDA): Cold Food Storage Chart
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: Leftovers and Food Safety
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Danger Zone" (40°F to 140°F)
Our storage notes are general kitchen guidance in line with USDA advice, not a guarantee: they assume food was handled safely, cooled promptly and kept at 40°F or colder. When in doubt, throw it out.