How Long Does Food Last in the Fridge?
Best-by dates tell you about quality at the supermarket, not how long food stays safe in your fridge at home. Storage times vary enormously by food type, whether the package has been opened, and how cold your fridge actually runs.
Meat and fish
- Raw chicken (whole, pieces or mince): 1 to 2 days. Freeze anything you will not cook within that window.
- Raw ground beef or pork: 1 to 2 days.
- Raw steak, chops or roasts: 3 to 5 days.
- Cooked meat (any kind): 3 to 4 days in a sealed container.
- Raw fish: 1 to 2 days.
- Smoked salmon (sealed, unopened): check the packaging; typically 2 weeks or more. Once open, 3 to 5 days.
Dairy
- Milk: about 1 week after opening, regardless of the carton date.
- Soft cheese (ricotta, cottage cheese, cream cheese): 1 to 2 weeks after opening.
- Hard cheese (cheddar, parmesan, gouda): 3 to 4 weeks after opening; several months sealed.
- Butter: 1 to 3 months; salted lasts longer than unsalted.
- Eggs: 3 to 5 weeks from purchase date if refrigerated on buying.
Cooked food and leftovers
Cooked food stored in a sealed container lasts 3 to 4 days for most dishes: soups, stews, roasted vegetables, cooked meat. Cooked rice and pasta are slightly shorter: 2 to 3 days. Cool cooked rice within two hours of cooking and store it promptly; Bacillus cereus spores can survive cooking and multiply at room temperature.
Produce
- Bagged leafy greens (unopened): 5 to 7 days; faster after opening.
- Berries: 3 to 5 days; wash only just before eating.
- Hard vegetables (carrots, celery, beets): 2 to 4 weeks in the crisper drawer.
- Cut fruit: 3 to 5 days in a sealed container.
- Herbs standing in water (parsley, coriander): up to 2 weeks with fresh water.
The fridge temperature rule
All of the above assumes your fridge is at or below 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit). Bacteria grow fastest between 4 and 60 degrees. If your fridge runs at 6 to 8 degrees, the safe storage times above are shorter. A cheap fridge thermometer placed on the middle shelf is the easiest way to check.
ReciBud lets you log what is in your fridge and pantry so nothing quietly expires in the back.
For produce or leftovers nearing the end of their safe window, see how to use up leftovers creatively.
Common questions
- How long do leftovers last in the fridge?
- Most cooked leftovers are safe for 3 to 4 days when stored in sealed containers at 4 degrees Celsius or below. Cooked rice and pasta are best eaten within 2 to 3 days.
- How long does raw chicken last in the fridge?
- Raw chicken stays safe for 1 to 2 days in the fridge. Freeze anything you will not cook within that window. This applies to whole pieces, bone-in portions and mince.
- How long do eggs last in the fridge?
- Refrigerated eggs last 3 to 5 weeks from the purchase date. Once refrigerated, keep them cold: taking eggs in and out of the fridge repeatedly shortens their shelf life.
- How do I know if food has gone bad?
- Rely on sight, smell and texture. Visible mould, a sour or off smell, or unusual sliminess are reliable signs for produce and dairy. With meat, cook it if you are within the safe window and uncertain; discard it if you are outside the window.