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Storage of Meats Poultry and Seafood
Questions about food storage, specifically proteins such as meats, poultry, and seafood.
2,359 Questions
How long does garlic stay fresh when it's kept in the freezer?
if you keep it in a dry cool dark place it can last for months.
If some light or humidity reaches the cloves, they will start to sprout, but you can still use some of them by removing the sprout when cutting the clove.
How long is meat good after the expiration date?
Most of the time, foods don't suddenly go bad the day after the "expiration date". Use your own best judgement. If the texture is different, the appearance looks odd or the odor is off, don't use it. When in doubt, throw it out.
Is it safe to eat steak that was frozen for 5 years?
If you are referring to a raw steak that has been thawing in the fridge (at proper settings) for the past 3 days, then it is probably safe to cook and eat as long as it was safe to cook and eat prior to being frozen.
How long can you leave a freezer unplugged?
Bear in mind that a refrigerator continues to insulate even when it is off, so cold food inside a refrigerator can remain adequately cold for about 4 hours or even up to 6 hours, depending on the refrigerator itself, the ambient temperature, and the number of times the refrigerator door is opened. The food in the freezer section will keep longer - 1 to 2 days (if the freezer is full). See Related Links.
How long does fresh ground meat stay fresh in the refrigerator?
This depends on the type of meat. After the meat is completely thawed, it usually lasts in the fridge for about a week. Beef can last longer, but after a week it's recommended that you throw it out or cook it very well-done (oxygen can turn the meat brown, but this is not a dangerous chemical reaction). Chicken usually lasts for under a week--in my experience, about four days--and is not safe for eating once the skin becomes slimy or a strange smell begins to rise off of it. It's basically the same for pork.
If possible, it's better to keep the meat frozen until you want to cook it, and then use the microwave or a similar method to thaw it quickly and efficiently. Any meat sitting in a crowded refrigerator can get contaminated even when the one-week rule is followed.
Note: Do NOT cook the chicken or pork if they are exhibiting these characteristics (strange smell or slimy feel). It's not safe, and even through cooking cannot kill some of the bacteria that grow all-too easily in these white meats. Even if you have to throw it out, and thereby lose the money you paid for it, your health is not worth that nominal cost.
How long will pizza stay good in the refrigerator?
Potentially hazardous food should not be left unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Less time is better, especially if the ambient temperature is around 90°F - then reduce that to one hour. Then it should either be reheated or refrigerated.
How long will it take for a twelve pound turkey to thaw in a refrigerator?
It should take about 3 days to thaw a 12-pound turkey in the fridge.
How long is frozen chili good?
Frozen, cooked chili can last for 6 months in the freezer without losing any flavor or texture. Frozen chili can be safely kept in the freezer indefinitely, but over time it would lose some freshness while still remaining safe to eat.
How long milk can stay at room temperature?
It depends how old the milk is to start with. If you have 2 bottles with different expiration dates, even if left out the longer dated one will last longer. I would not worry too much as bad milk smells bad, so you throw it away.
How long does fish keep out of the fridge?
Fish shouldn't be in the fridge for too long. A week is about he maximum time before it goes bad. Under optimal conditions the longest it could stay good is a week and a day. It should away from all other foods to prevent contamination.
How long will smoked pork loin keep in fridge?
Bacteria can form on food left out after an hour. It is best to refrigerate cooked food as soon as possible to prevent this.
How many days will roasted chicken keep in the fridge?
Chicken - or any poultry - is one of those things you need to be careful about storing for too long. Check with your city or county health authority.
Is cooked chicken left in microwave overnight okay to eat?
If that 'thing' was a bowl of just potato chips or pretzels - sure it would be safe. But a bowl of chili or soup, a chicken leg, or pizza or anything else that requires refrigeration would not be safe left out overnight.
The inside of microwave oven would not afford any special protection against microorganisms.
How long can you store meat in the freezer before it becomes freezer burned?
Food can get freezer burn in a day or so if left exposed in the freezer. Otherwise, it generally takes a month or more to become freezer burnt. If food is properly packaged, the risk of freezer burn goes way down.
How long can beef broth be kept in refrigerator?
7 days in the refrigerator. If it was canned, put it in a glass or plastic container before you refrigerate it.
That depends upon several factors, including:
- Length of time from harvest
- Condition of waters from which it was harvested
- How it was handled after harvest through distribution to consumer
- How the consumer handled it
- What temperature of past and current storage
Freshly caught fish can spoil within one day if left at ambient temperatures. Refrigerated fish could last up to one week. Freezing will prevent bacterial spoilage, but the fish could eventually develop freezer burn or turn rancid.
You have to keep fish on ice. If you fish and leave the guts in and don't have a lot of ice and you get in at late afternoon it will start to turn. But if you gut it and put on ice the fish could last maybe four or five days.
How long can you refrigerate cooked hamburger patties?
If you keep them covered or sealed up in an air-tight container or baggie, the burgers could last for a few more days. As soon as they seem to be going bad, throw them away. After a week or more, they will definitely not be good for eating anymore.
Is it safe to eat a frozen dinner that was in a freezer that lost power for 4 hours?
it depends on the substance
If the freezer has been in working order and the freezer is pretty full, a power outage of 4 hours should not be a problem as long as the freezer is not opened. Ice cream may get soft, but everything else should be OK. Consider how long it takes one item to thaw if you leave it on the counter - and that's at room temperature. The freezer box is insulated so the air temperature in the freezer should not rise rapidly.
How long can you refrigerate cooked rib roast?
not long at all. like with any meat, if it's out of refrigeration for long periods of time it will spoil. the climate where you are can also affect how long it can go without refrigeration. If you made roast beef for sandwiches down at the beach, it should be fine for the drive down (though I'd put it in a cooler to be on the safe side). If you live in a really warm, humid area, the roast beef'll probably go bad in a matter of hours if not refrigerated.
How long does cooked sausage last?
The answer is a tricky one as it purely depends on other factors than boiling alone.
If left on a plate in a warm room, then I would say about 10 hours.
If left in a plastic bag in a fridge, then 3-4 days would be reasonable.
If you put the sausage in a jar filled with water/bullion, then boil it and put on lid and boil it another minute after putting on lid... Then it is hermetically sealed and should last for several years.. Taste may change over the years, but bacteria would not build up as the boiling process kill them off. The degradation of taste would be due to "chemical" processes in the food.
When sausage (or any food) is boiled, it becomes "sterile"
The degradation of food starts when bacteria or fungus start building up anew.
If no bacteria or fungus is present, then food will last a long long long time.
Things to consider when you store food is:
1. Use properly cleaned containers for your food.
2. Do not use fingers on food you plan on storing for any length of time.
3. Handle food for storing with properly cleaned tools.
What is the slime on lunch meat?
That's microbial growth - either bacteria or yeast or even slime mold.
How long does raw marinated chicken last in the refrigerator?
That should depend upon what the recipe recommends. Up to 24 hours could be acceptable, though less is more normal.
Does smoked trout need to be refrigerated?
Shelf-stabled smoked salmon that has a water activity below .85 does not need to be refrigerated until opened. Once opened, it should be placed into an airtight container and refrigerated for up to two weeks.
What happens to fish that has been thawed and then refrozen?
Refreezing food will result in a reduction of quality.
