Safely Storing Food
- Cool It!
Keep your refrigerator at 32-36 degrees.
- To Eat or Not To Eat!
Do not eat leftovers or opened packages of lunchmeat after five days.
- Check It Twice!
Make a list of refrigerated, frozen and perishable items and their storage lives.
- The Dating Game!
Label leftovers with the date you put them in the refrigerator.
- Clean It and Mean It!
Clean and sanitize your refrigerator and freezer on a regular basis.
- Time to Go!
Once a week, check your refrigerator for food items that need to be thrown away.
- Freezing Fish!
Freeze seafood as soon as possible after your purchase. Chill fish in ice or in the refrigerator
until ready to freeze it. Freeze smoked fish as soon as you remove it from the smoker. Brush
pieces of smoked fish with bland salad oil, to keep from dehydrating in the freezer.
- Storing Chicken:
| Chicken to be Stored | Refrigerator: 40 degrees F | Freezer: 0 degrees F |
| Fresh Raw Chicken: | ||
| Whole | 1 to 2 days | 1 year |
| Parts | 1 to 2 days | 9 months |
| Giblets | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Ground | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Cooked Chicken and Leftovers: | ||
| Fried | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Whole Roasted | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Cooked Dishes | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 6 months |
| Part w/out Gravy or Broth | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Parts with Gravy or Broth | 1 to 2 days | 6 months |
| Nuggets or Patties | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 3 months |
- Storing Herbs, Spices, Condiments and Extracts:
| Spices and Herbs | Maximum Storage | Handling Hints |
| Spices and Herbs: | ||
| Whole Spices Ground Spices Herbs Herb spice blends |
4-5 years 2-3 years 6 months 6 months |
Store in airtight containers in a dry place away from sunlight and heat. Check aroma; if faded replace. Whole cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon sticks maintain quality beyond 2 years. Can be stored in freezer to extend shelf life. |
| Salt, Cream of tartar | Indefinitely | |
| Condiments: | ||
| Catsup, chili sauce: Unopened Opened |
12 months |
Refrigerate for longer storage |
| Mustard, prepared yellow Unopened Opened |
2 year 6-8 months |
May be refrigerated. Stir or shake before using. |
| Tabasco, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce |
2-2 ½ years | |
| Soy sauce, unopened | 3 years | Use within 6-9 months after opening |
| Extracts: | ||
| Vanilla Unopened Opened |
2 years 12 months |
Keep tightly closed. Volatile oils escape. |
|
Other Extracts: |
1 year 12 months |
Keep tightly closed. Volatile oils escape. |
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