Food storage
How long food keeps
Fridge and freezer times for leftovers and cooked food, from USDA FoodKeeper. Each page gives the time first, then how to store, freeze and reheat that food.
Updated
How to read these times
- Fridge times are for 40°F or colder, and freezer times for 0°F.
- Freezer times are for best quality. Food kept at 0°F stays safe longer, but it dries out and loses flavor.
- The days count from when the food was cooked, unless the table says from purchase. Get it into the fridge within 2 hours, or 1 hour on a day above 90°F.
- Go by the days, not by the smell. When in doubt, throw it out.
Leftovers, soups and casseroles
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Leftovers | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Leftover pizza | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Soup | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Casseroles | 3 to 4 days | No USDA time |
| Homemade broth | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
Chicken, turkey and ham
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 6 months |
| Cooked turkey | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 6 months |
| Rotisserie chicken | 3 to 4 daysfrom purchase | 4 monthsfrom purchase |
| Fried chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Cooked ham | 3 to 4 daysfrom purchase | 1 to 2 monthsfrom purchase |
Fish and shrimp
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked fish | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked shrimp | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 3 monthsfrom purchase |
Rice, pasta and grains
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked rice | 4 to 6 days | 6 months |
| Cooked pasta | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked quinoa | 6 to 7 days | 6 to 12 months |
Eggs and quiche
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Hard-boiled eggs | 1 week | Not recommended |
| Cooked egg dishes | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Quiche | 3 to 5 days | 2 to 3 months |
Salads and dips
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Potato salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Pasta salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Chicken salad | 3 to 4 days | Not recommended |
| Egg salad | 3 to 4 days | Not recommended |
| Tuna salad | 3 to 4 days | Not recommended |
| Coleslaw | 3 to 5 days | No USDA time |
| Guacamole | 3 to 4 days | 3 to 4 months |
Times from USDA FoodKeeper, the storage data from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service: data version 128, last changed September 6, 2018, still the current version. Public domain. The handling rules are from USDA's Leftovers and Food Safety.