Reading labels and dates, how long meat keeps in the fridge and freezer, and freezing it well.
At the store
- Pick up meat last and get it into the fridge within 2 hours (1 hour on a hot day). Bag it separately so juices can't drip onto other food.
- Look for firm meat with good color and little liquid in the package. Beef that's brownish inside the pack is usually fine (it's just not exposed to air); a sour smell or slimy feel is not.
- Sell-by dates are for the store. Use-by dates are the maker's advice for best quality. Neither is a safety deadline, but follow the fridge times below from the day you buy it.
How long it keeps
Times are for a fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder and a freezer at 0°F (-18°C). Frozen meat stays safe indefinitely; the freezer times are for best quality.
Steaks, chops, roasts (beef, pork, lamb)
- Fridge:
- 3–5 days
- Freezer:
- 4–12 months
Ground meat (raw)
- Fridge:
- 1–2 days
- Freezer:
- 3–4 months
Sausages (raw)
- Fridge:
- 1–2 days
- Freezer:
- 1–2 months
Chicken and turkey, whole or parts
- Fridge:
- 1–2 days
- Freezer:
- 9–12 months
Fish (fatty fish keep less time frozen)
- Fridge:
- 1–2 days
- Freezer:
- 2–8 months
Bacon
- Fridge:
- 7 days
- Freezer:
- 1 month
Cooked leftovers
- Fridge:
- 3–4 days
- Freezer:
- 2–6 months
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Steaks, chops, roasts (beef, pork, lamb) | 3–5 days | 4–12 months |
| Ground meat (raw) | 1–2 days | 3–4 months |
| Sausages (raw) | 1–2 days | 1–2 months |
| Chicken and turkey, whole or parts | 1–2 days | 9–12 months |
| Fish (fatty fish keep less time frozen) | 1–2 days | 2–8 months |
| Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Cooked leftovers | 3–4 days | 2–6 months |
These follow the USDA's FoodKeeper guidance.
Freezing well
- Freeze meat as soon as you know you won't cook it in time, not on its last day.
- Wrap tightly and squeeze out the air (freezer bags or plastic wrap plus foil) to avoid freezer burn: dry, grayish patches that are safe but taste flat.
- Freeze in meal-sized portions and flat, so it freezes and thaws faster.
- Label with what it is and the date.
- Meat thawed in the fridge can go back in the freezer uncooked; meat thawed in cold water or the microwave should be cooked first. See thawing safely.