How Long Does It Keep?
88 foods

Meat: storage times

How long meat last in the fridge and freezer, from USDA FoodKeeper data. Open a food for pantry times, opened vs unopened, and tips.

Fresh

FoodFridgeFreezer
Beef (chuck roast, brisket)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (ground)1–2 days3–4 months
Beef (rib roast, bone-in)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (rib roast; boneless, rolled)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (round or rump roast)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (short ribs)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (steaks)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (stew, cubes)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (tenderloin, half)3–5 days4–12 months
Beef (tenderloin, whole)3–5 days4–12 months
Bison (ground)1–2 days3–4 months
Bison (whole)3–5 days6–9 months
Bratwurst (fresh)2–3 days2–3 months
Chorizo (fresh)1–2 days1–2 months
Goat (ground)1–2 days3–4 months
Goat (less tender whole cuts (stew meat, riblets, shanks))3–5 days4–12 months
Goat (tender whole cuts (legs, ribs, shoulder, loin))3–5 days4–12 months
Ham (uncured, fresh, uncooked)3–5 days6 months
Lamb (breast, rolled)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (chops, ribs, or loin)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (crown roast)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (cubes for kabobs)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (ground)1–2 days3–4 months
Lamb (leg steaks)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (leg, bone-in - large)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (leg, bone-in - small)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (leg; boneless, rolled)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (shanks)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (shoulder roast or shank leg half)3–5 days4–12 months
Lamb (stew meat, pieces)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (crown roast - large)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (crown roast - small)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (ground)1–2 days3–4 months
Pork (loin chops, bone-in)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (loin chops, boneless)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (loin roast, bone-in)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (loin roast, boneless)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (loin, cubes)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (ribs)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (shoulder)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (tenderloin medallions or loin cubes)3–5 days4–12 months
Pork (tenderloin)3–5 days4–12 months
Rabbit (whole, fresh)2 days9 months
Variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.)1–2 days3–4 months
Veal (ground)1–2 days3–4 months
Veal (leg rump or round roast, boneless)3–5 days4–12 months
Veal (loin roast, bone-in)3–5 days4–12 months
Veal (shoulder roast, boneless)3–5 days4–12 months
Venison (round, rump, loin, or rib roast)3–5 days4–12 months

Shelf Stable Foods

FoodFridgeFreezer
Bacon (fully cooked)5–14 days—
Ham (shelf-stable cans)5–14 days—
Jerky (commercially dried)2–3 months—
Jerky (homemade)1–2 months—
Meat products (canned)3–4 days—
Retort pouches or boxes3–4 days—

Smoked or Processed

FoodFridgeFreezer
Bacon1 week1 month
Bacon (uncured)4–7 days3–4 weeks
Bratwurst (smoked and processed)5–7 days2–3 months
Chorizo (smoked and processed, cooked)1 month6 months
Chorizo (smoked and processed, uncooked)1 week1–2 months
Corned beef (in pouch with pickling juices)5–7 days1 month
Ham (canned (“keep refrigerated” label))6–9 months—
Ham (country ham (whole or half))1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, arm picnic shoulder, boneless)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, half)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, whole)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, shank or butt portion, bone-in)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, shoulder roll (butt), boneless)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, uncooked, half leg, bone-in)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, uncooked, whole leg, bone-in)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fresh, uncooked, whole leg, boneless)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fully cooked, arm picnic shoulder, boneless)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fully cooked, bone-in, half)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fully cooked, bone-in, whole)1 week1–2 months
Ham (fully cooked, canned, boneless (refrigerated))3–5 days1–2 months
Ham (fully cooked, slices, half, or spiral cut)3–4 days1–2 months
Ham (fully cooked, vacuum packed, boneless)2 weeks1–2 months
Ham (uncured, fresh, cooked)3–4 days3–4 months
Hot dogs1 week1–2 months
Pastrami40 days—
Pate (meat)7 days—
Pork roll7 days—
Prosciutto2–3 months1 month
Sausage (fully cooked smoked links, kielbasa)1 week1–2 months
Sausage (hard, dry (pepperoni), sliced)2–3 weeks1–2 months
Sausage (raw bulk type or patties)1–2 days1–2 months

Stuffed or Assembled

FoodFridgeFreezer
Raw kabobs with vegetables1–2 days3–4 months
Stuffed, raw pork chops1–2 days9 months