Fridge & Pantry
Storage windows, organizing systems, and the everyday swaps that keep produce, dairy, and dry goods fresh longer.
USDA places most cooked leftovers at three to four days in the fridge, raw poultry at one to two, and hard cheeses at three to four weeks. Each guide here is built on the FoodKeeper App numbers plus the parts the chart doesn't tell you: how cold the back of your fridge actually runs versus the door, why dairy windows shorten once opened, and which signs mean discard even if the date says it's fine.
Articles
23 guidesJun 19, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does canned tuna last after opening?
Opened canned tuna keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge, but never in the can. Why unopened cans last years, and how to store tuna salad safely.
ReadJun 17, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does ham last after opening?
Opened or sliced ham keeps 3 to 5 days in the fridge, a whole cooked ham up to 7. Why country and canned ham follow different rules, and how to freeze it.
ReadJun 13, 2026 · 5 min read
How long do apples last?
Apples keep 4 to 6 weeks in the fridge but about 3 weeks on the counter. Why they ripen everything nearby, and how to stop cut apples from browning.
ReadJun 12, 2026 · 4 min read
How long does cheese last after opening?
Opened hard cheese keeps 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge; soft types about 1 to 2. The USDA mold rule for trimming hard cheese, and how to wrap it right.
ReadJun 9, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does bacon last after opening?
Opened bacon keeps about 7 days in the fridge and 1 month frozen. How unopened, opened, and cooked bacon differ, plus the spoilage signs to watch.
ReadJun 7, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does cooked shrimp last in the fridge?
Cooked shrimp keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge and about 3 months frozen. Why seafood spoils fast, the 2-hour rule, and the spoilage signs to check.
ReadJun 5, 2026 · 4 min read
How long does milk last after opening?
Opened milk keeps about a week in the fridge, and the sell-by date is not the deadline. Why the door ruins it fastest and how to tell when milk has turned.
ReadJun 4, 2026 · 5 min read
Can you eat food past its expiration date?
For almost everything except infant formula (and some baby food), yes. Date labels are about quality, not safety, and are mostly not required by law.
ReadJun 1, 2026 · 5 min read
How long do berries last in the fridge?
USDA fridge timing for berries by type, the wash-just-before-use rule that doubles shelf life, and how to spot mold before it spreads.
ReadJun 1, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does watermelon last?
Whole watermelon lasts about a week on the counter; cut watermelon only 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Plus the rind-scrub step that prevents outbreaks.
ReadMay 28, 2026 · 5 min read
How long do hot dogs last after opening?
USDA timing for hot dogs: one week opened, the Listeria reason to reheat to 165°F for high-risk groups, and the freezer rule that adds a month.
ReadMay 24, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does cooked salmon last in the fridge?
USDA timing for cooked salmon, three to four days at most, why fish spoils faster than meat, and the histamine risk that reheating doesn't fix.
ReadMay 23, 2026 · 4 min read
How long does cooked pasta last in the fridge?
USDA puts plain cooked pasta at three to five days; sauced pasta follows the leftovers window of three to four. Why it pays to store pasta and sauce apart.
ReadMay 22, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does cream cheese last after opening?
USDA timing for cream cheese: about two weeks once opened, why whipped and flavored tubs go first, and why surface mold means the whole tub is done.
ReadMay 21, 2026 · 6 min read
How long can food sit out at room temperature?
USDA's two-hour rule for food at room temperature: the cutoff that becomes one hour above 90°F, why heat-stable bacterial toxins can't be reheated away.
ReadMay 20, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does potato salad last in the fridge?
USDA timing for potato salad: 3 to 5 days in the fridge, why it's the potato (not the mayo) that spoils it, and the two-hour picnic rule.
ReadMay 18, 2026 · 4 min read
How long do eggs last in the fridge?
USDA-backed timing for eggs, three to five weeks from purchase, what the sell-by date actually means, and the simple float test that beats reading the carton.
ReadMay 17, 2026 · 6 min read
How long do potatoes last?
USDA guidance on storing potatoes, one to two months in a cool dark pantry, why the fridge isn't ideal, and what to do about green skin and sprouts.
ReadMay 16, 2026 · 4 min read
How long does deli meat last after opening?
USDA timing for deli meat, three to five days opened, the Listeria risk that makes lunch meat unique, and the freezing trick that buys an extra month.
ReadMay 15, 2026 · 5 min read
How long does cooked ground beef last in the fridge?
USDA timing for cooked ground beef, three to four days at 40°F, why ground meat spoils faster than steak, and the temperature that actually kills E. coli.
ReadMay 15, 2026 · 3 min read
How long does olive oil last after opening?
The honest shelf life of olive oil, three to six months once opened, what rancidity smells like, and the four things that age oil fastest in your kitchen.
ReadMay 13, 2026 · 3 min read
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?
USDA timing for cooked chicken: 3 to 4 days in the fridge, what changes if it was sauced, and how to freeze leftovers without drying them out.
ReadMay 12, 2026 · 5 min read
How long do leftovers last in the fridge?
USDA's three-to-four-day rule for cooked leftovers, the exceptions that need shorter windows, and the two-hour clock that matters more than the date.
Read
Other sections
Section 01 · Cold
Freezing
What freezes well, what doesn't, and how long it really lasts. Plus the right way to thaw, without the soggy aftermath.
OpenSection 03 · Picks
Best Of
Honest, tested picks for the tools that pull their weight (freezer bags, glass jars, label makers) and the ones that don't.
OpenThe publication
About Larder Lane
Who writes the guides, how we source food safety guidance, and the editorial standards we hold.
Open