It’s that time of the year again when you’ll be looking in your fridge and debating if you should risk one more turkey/stuffing/cranberry sauce sandwich. Before you take a bite, check out these general rules about storing perishables.
How Long Can I Keep It?
Refrigerate all perishable food within two hours, or one hour if the temperature is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap all food in foil or freezer-safe plastic wrap before freezing.
Dairy – follow the use by or sell by dates – do not freeze
Eggs – good for 3-5 weeks in the refrigerator – do not freeze
Ground meat – lasts 1-2 days in the refrigerator, 3-4 months in freezer
Raw chicken – keeps 1-2 days in the refrigerator, 9 months in freezer
Beer – best within 110 days from the bottling date
Leftovers
Pizza – wrap in foil or plastic wrap, refrigerate, and use within 3-4 days. Lasts up to 2 months in the freezer.
Chinese Food – close the containers tightly, refrigerate and use within 2 days. Don’t freeze.
Fried chicken – wrap in foil or plastic, refrigerate and use within 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 4 months
Soup or Stew – store in a covered container, refrigerate and use within 3-4 days, or freeze up to 3 months.
For more specific Thanksgiving leftover rules, follow these guidelines by StillTasty.com. Remember to store each item in a separate container.
Turkey – 3-4 days in refrigerator
Gravy – 1-2 days in refrigerator, bring to boil before using
Cooked Stuffing – 3-4 days in refrigerator, remove from turkey before storing
Cranberry sauce – 10-14 days in refrigerator
For a more comprehensive guide to handling and storing food, check out this this post by Sam, our all-things-culinary expert.
