Food Spoilage Chart Sometimes determining the freshness of food in the fridge can be tricky.

While s ome foods may look fine or pass the "smell test", there are varying spoilage tim es that you have to keep in mind. Eating food that is past its prime can not onl y not taste right but also get people very ill. This is a great guide to the she lf life when refrigerated of many popular foods. Remember: when in doubt, throw it out! Dairy Milk, 7 days Butter, 1-3 months Cream, 4 days Cheese (hard), 6 months unopened or 3 weeks opened Cheese (soft), 1 week Cream cheese, 2 weeks Cottage cheese, 1 week Sour cream, 14-21 days Yogurt, 7-14 days Eggs Fresh, 5 weeks Hardboiled, 1 week Liquid egg substitute, 10 days unopened or 3 days opened Meat Hamburger (ground), 2 days Turkey (ground), 2 days Ham (slices), 4 days Hot dogs, 2 weeks unopened or 1 week opened Lunch meat, 2 weeks unopened or 3-5 days opened Bacon, 1 week Sausage (fresh), 2 days Sausage (breakfast links or patties), 1 week Roasts, 3-5 days Steak, 3-5 days Chops, 3-5 days

Chicken (whole or parts), 2 days Fried chicken, 3-4 days Chicken nuggets, 2 days Fish (fresh), 1-2 days Fish (cooked), 4 days Fish (smoked), 2 weeks Fresh shrimp and shellfish, 1-2 days Cooked shelfish, 3-4 days Drinks Juice (carton), 3 weeks unopened or 7-10 days opened Coffee (canned ground), 1 month Soft drinks, 3 months from "best by" date Wine, 1 week corked Beer, 6 weeks Condiments Mayonnaise, 3 months Mustard, 6-8 months Ketchup, 5 months Honey mustard, 2 months Tartar sauce, 3 months Olive oil, 6 months Tahini, 1 month Hummus, 1 week Pickles, 6 months Horseradish, 6-8 months Chocolate syrup, 6-8 months Peanut butter, 4 months Jelly, 4-5 months Salad dressing, 2 months Honey, 8 months

Relish, 6 months