Cooking

How to Store Food Safely

How to Store Food Safely

W​hether you're storing baked goods, fresh produce or meat, ideal environments and shelf lives vary. Download our Food Storage Guide for specific instructions on storing baked items, food purchased frozen, foods purchased refrigerated, and even fresh fruits and vegetables.

Remember: When in doubt, throw it out!

Once Opened

We get lots of questions about best before dates and how long to keep a product once opened. Here are some of the most common food items and storage times.

Note: Storage time varies and can be shorter due to multiple factors like how cold your fridge is, double-dipping, leaving it on the counter, etc.

Ingredient Where to Store Length of Time

Asian Sauces

Refrigerator

By best-before date or 1 - 2 months

Broth (in tetra pack)

Refrigerator

Freezer

Refrigerator: 3 - 4 days

Freezer: 2 - 3 months

Canned Milk :

  • Evaporated
  • Sweetened Condensed

Refrigerator

Freezer

Refrigerator: 4 - 5 days

Freezer: 2 - 3 months

Canned Fish (i.e. Tuna)

Refrigerator

1 - 2 days

Canned or Jarred Tomatoes:

  • Tomato Paste
  • Diced, Whole, Crushed

 

Refrigerator

Freezer

Refrigerator: 5 days

Freezer: 2 - 3 months

Eggs:

  • Raw
  • Cooked

Refrigerator

Freezer

Raw, whole, shell-on:

  • Refrigerator: By best-before date
 

Raw, shell-off:

  • Refrigerator: 1 - 2 days
  • Frozen: 4 months
    • Best to freeze either whole egg or egg whites
 

Cooked, hardboiled:

  • Refrigerator: 7 days
    • Do not freeze

Leftovers:

  • Homemade
  • Take Out

Refrigerator

Freezer

Refrigerator: 2 - 4 days

Frozen: 1 - 2 months 

Some leftovers freeze and thaw better than others

Pickles

Refrigerator

1 - 2 months

Salad Dressing:

  • Shelf Stable
  • Deli/Refrigerated

Refrigerator

Shelf Stable: By best-before date or 3 months

Deli/Refrigerated: By best-before day or 2 - 3 weeks

Salsa

Refrigerator

Freezer

Refrigerator: 3 weeks

Frozen: 2 - 3 months

The 2 hour rule

  • Use the 2 Hour Rule both at home and while shopping. The 2 Hour Rule states that all perishable foods must be refrigerated or frozen within 2 hours of purchase or preparation. If the weather is hot, more than 27°C (80°F), reduce that time to 1 hour and use a cooler for perishable foods while shopping. Any perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for longer than these times should be discarded. 
  • Refrigerate cooked foods as soon as possible after a meal. Once the foods have cooled, cover with lids or plastic food wrap. Use them quickly, or freeze them, as they have a short shelf life. Most leftovers should be used within 2 – 4 days; combination foods and foods that contain dairy, seafood or fish should be used within 1 – 2 days. If you have any doubts about the safety of leftover food, throw it out.