Food Storage FAQ
Expert answers to your food storage questions
Is it Safe to Leave Canned Food Leftovers in the Can?
From a safety standpoint, the answer is yes. The United States Department of Agriculture says it's safe to refrigerate canned foods manufactured in the United States directly in the can. That said, th...
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Is it Safe to Put Hot Food In the Fridge?
It’s okay to place hot food directly in the refrigerator, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. How long does food have to cool before putting it in the fridge? You can put hot food in the fr...
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Are Eggs Still Safe After the Expiration Date?
Yes, your eggs should be fine, provided you’ve been storing them properly. How long are expired eggs safe to eat? As the American Egg Board notes, the dates you see on egg cartons are not food safety ...
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Should You Rinse a Raw Turkey Before Cooking It?
No — according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s not a good idea to wash or rinse a raw turkey before cooking it. The problem is that when you rinse raw turkey, bacteria pre...
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Is It Safe to Cook Stuffing Inside a Turkey?
It’s possible to safely cook stuffing inside a turkey, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture — but you’ll need to take some special precautions. If your stuffing recipe calls for any type of raw mea...
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Is it Safe to Refreeze a Thawed Turkey?
It depends on how you thawed the turkey. When Is It Safe to Refreeze a Turkey? It’s fine to refreeze a thawed turkey — as long as you thawed it in the refrigerator. If that was the case, you can put i...
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Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?
Yes, cranberry sauce freezes very well. You can freeze both homemade and canned cranberry sauce with good results. Freeze your leftover cranberry sauce in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty fre...
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Can You Cook a Frozen Turkey Without Thawing It First?
Yes — you can roast a frozen turkey in the oven without defrosting it first, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You shouldn't grill, smoke, deep-fry or microwave a frozen turkey. You’ll need to ...
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How Long Can You Keep a Thawed Turkey in the Fridge?
It depends on how you’re thawing it. Safely keeping a thawed turkey in the fridge If you’re defrosting the turkey in the fridge, you can safely keep it refrigerated for an additional one or two days a...
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Is Pink Turkey Meat Safe to Eat?
Not necessarily. Cooked turkey that’s still pink can be safe to eat, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture — but only if the turkey’s internal temperature has reached 165° F throughout. As the USDA ...
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How Long Can You Keep Peeled Potatoes?
You can safely leave peeled potatoes in the refrigerator for 24 hours. It’s a great way to get a head start on your holiday meal preparation. As the Idaho Potato Commission notes, you can keep both wh...
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How Long Can Cooked Turkey Sit Out Before It Becomes Unsafe To Eat?
You can safely leave cooked turkey out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooked tu...
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How Long Can Raw Chicken Be Left Out Of The Fridge?
Unfortunately, your chicken is no longer safe to eat. How long can raw chicken sit at room temperature? You can safely leave raw chicken out at room temperature for about two hours — or one hour if th...
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How Long Can You Keep Thawed Shrimp in the Fridge?
The answer depends on how you thawed the shrimp. Safely keeping thawed shrimp in the fridge You can safely keep raw shrimp that’s been defrosted in the refrigerator for an additional one to two days b...
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Can You Refreeze Thawed Chicken?
It depends on how you thawed the chicken breasts. When Is It Safe to Refreeze Raw Chicken? It’s fine to refreeze chicken breasts that have thawed — as long as you thawed them in the refrigerator and k...
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How Long Can Cooked Hamburgers Be Left Out at Room Temperature?
You can safely leave cooked hamburgers out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooke...
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Do You Have to Wash Bagged Salad That's Been Prewashed?
No — as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration points out, you do not have to re-wash salads that are labeled as prewashed and ready-to-eat. In fact, by re-washing a prewashed bagged salad, you might a...
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Is it Safe to Eat Canned Food That Has Accidentally Frozen?
Possibly - but you’ll need to be sure of a few things first. As the United States Department of Agriculture points out, frozen canned food that has been allowed to thaw at a temperature above 40 °F is...
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Can You Freeze Pie Crust Before Baking It?
Yes, you can freeze pie crust or pie dough in advance with very good results. In fact, it’s a great timesaving strategy for the hectic holiday season. Your first option is to freeze the unbaked pie do...
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How Long Can Cooked Chicken Be Left Out at Room Temperature?
Unfortunately, your chicken breasts are no longer safe to eat. Leaving Cooked Chicken Out of the Fridge You can safely leave cooked chicken out at room temperature for two hours — or one hour if the t...
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How Long Can You Leave Frozen Chicken in the Freezer?
Yes — from a safety perspective you have nothing to worry about. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes, foods kept constantly frozen at 0°F or lower will keep safe indefinitely. But bear in mind...
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How Long Can You Keep Thawed Ground Beef in the Fridge?
You’ve got some time before you have to cook it. Safely Keeping Thawed Ground Beef in the Fridge Ground beef that’s been defrosted in the fridge can be safely kept for an additional one to two days in...
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How Long Can Cooked Steak Be Left Out at Room Temperature?
You can safely leave cooked steak out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooked ste...
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How Long Can You Leave Marinated Chicken in the Fridge?
You can safely leave marinated chicken in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. But bear in mind that some marinade recipes are designed to work ...
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Do You Have to Thaw Frozen Chicken Before Cooking It?
It’s fine to cook frozen chicken in the oven (or on the stove top) without defrosting it first, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bear in mind, though, that it’ll generally take about 50 percen...
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How Long Can Cooked Hot Dogs Be Left Out at Room Temperature?
You can safely leave cooked hot dogs out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooked ...
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How Long Can You Leave Marinated Steak in the Fridge?
You can safely leave marinated steak in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. But while leaving marinated steak in the fridge for 5 days may be f...
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Can You Freeze Cheese Successfully?
You can freeze cheese successfully if you’re planning to use it for cooking purposes. Frozen cheese will remain safe to consume, but it will typically change texture and often become crumbly once thaw...
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Does Pumpkin Pie Have to be Refrigerated?
You should refrigerate homemade pumpkin pie, unless you’re planning to serve it within two hours of baking. How long can homemade pumpkin pie be left out? According to the United States Department of ...
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Should You Wash Grapes Before Storing Them?
No, you should always hold off on washing grapes until you’re ready to eat them. The reason, as the California Table Grape Commission points out, is that the excess moisture created by washing speeds ...
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Is it Better to Store Bread on the Counter or in the Fridge?
The counter is definitely the better place for your bread. Bread stored in the refrigerator will dry out and become stale much faster than bread stored at room temperature. For longer-term storage, yo...
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Is Bottled Water Still Safe To Drink After the Expiration Date?
From a safety perspective, you have nothing to worry about. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unopened commercially bottled water will keep safe indefinitely, as long as the bottles ...
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Should You Refrigerate Bananas?
Yes — once they have reached the ripeness you like, you should refrigerate your bananas. The cooler temperature of the refrigerator will slow down the spoilage process and keep the bananas tasty for a...
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Is it OK to Thaw Steak on the Counter?
Wrapped or not, that’s an unsafe move. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that it’s dangerous to eat any meat that has been thawed at room temperature. The problem is that even though the center...
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Should You Keep Potatoes in the Fridge?
The refrigerator is not the ideal place for your potatoes. As the United States Potato Board notes, refrigeration can cause potatoes to darken during cooking and to develop an unpleasantly sweet taste...
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Does Vinegar Ever Go Bad?
Your vinegar should be fine, provided you’ve been storing it properly. From a safety standpoint, commercially produced vinegar has a virtually indefinite shelf life, says the Vinegar Institute, an ass...
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Do Spices Ever Go Bad?
From a safety perspective they should be fine, but when it comes to flavoring your food, you may not be very happy with the results. As seasoning makers like McCormick point out, spices do not actuall...
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Is Yogurt Still Safe After the Sell-By Date?
Most likely it is. Yogurt that has been properly stored will generally remain safe for at least 1 to 2 weeks after the "sell-by" date on the package. As the food safety specialists at Clemson Universi...
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How Long Can Hard-Boiled Eggs Be Left Out Of The Fridge?
Unfortunately your eggs are not safe. You can safely leave hard-boiled eggs out at room temperature for two hours — or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit — says the United Stat...
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How Can You Tell if an Avocado is Ripe?
You can tell if an avocado is ripe by giving it a gentle squeeze — if it yields to that light pressure, it’s ready to use, says the California Avocado Commission. If your avocados aren’t yet ripe, sto...
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Does Pure Honey Go Bad?
No — your honey should be fine, provided you’ve been storing it properly. From a safety standpoint, commercially produced pure honey has a practically indefinite shelf life, says the National Honey Bo...
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Does Pecan Pie Have to be Refrigerated?
You should refrigerate the pecan pie, unless you’re planning to serve it within two hours of baking. As both the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Egg Board note, it’s unsafe to...
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Is it OK to Refreeze Fish That Has Already Thawed?
It’s fine to refreeze the fish fillets — as long as you thawed them in the refrigerator and held them there for no more than two days. If that was the case, you can pop the fillets back into the freez...
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How Long Can Raw Ground Beef Be Left Out?
The burgers were probably fine. You can safely leave raw ground beef out at room temperature for two hours — or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit — says the United States Depa...
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Do You Have to Refrigerate Opened Bottles of Mustard and Ketchup?
Technically speaking, you don’t have to store opened bottles of ketchup and mustard in the refrigerator. But it’s a good idea all the same, since they will last much longer if you do, as condiment man...
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Do You Have to Refrigerate Oranges?
You don’t have to refrigerate oranges, but they'll last much longer if you do. As the Florida Department of Citrus points out, oranges don’t ripen any further once they’ve been picked and the refriger...
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Do You Have to Refrigerate Peanut Butter?
No — it’s not necessary to refrigerate an opened jar of commercially manufactured peanut butter, says the National Peanut Board. An opened jar of processed peanut butter will usually keep well for abo...
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Is Frozen Steak Still OK if the Packaging Has Torn?
From a safety perspective, the steak should be fine. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, foods kept constantly frozen at 0°F or lower will keep safe indefinitely. That’s the case even if...
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How Cold Should Your Freezer Be?
You should keep your freezer temperature at or below 0° F, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At that freezer temperature, the growth of harmful bacteria will be halted — indeed, foods that a...
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My Olive Oil Has Turned Cloudy: Is it Still OK?
Your olive oil should be fine. When stored at temperatures below 50° Fahrenheit (like those you’ll find in your fridge), olive oil has a tendency to become cloudy and may start to solidify, says the N...
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How Long Can Mayonnaise Be Left Out of the Fridge?
You can let an opened jar of mayonnaise sit out at room temperature for up to 8 hours, says the United States Department of Agriculture. Opened mayonnaise that has been held above 50 degrees Fahrenhei...
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I Left Pizza Out Overnight - Is It Still Safe to Eat?
Sorry, but you're out of luck. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, it’s dangerous to eat any cooked food (including takeout foods like pizza, fried chicken or Chinese food) that ...
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Should You Rinse Raw Chicken Before Cooking It?
No — in fact, it's not a good idea at all. The United States Department of Agriculture advises against the practice of rinsing poultry or meat before cooking it. The problem is that when you rinse raw...
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Can You Safely Drink Milk After the Sell-By Date?
Yes, milk that has been properly stored will generally remain drinkable for about one week after the "sell-by" date on the package. That’s the general case, mind you — as the Dairy Council of Californ...
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Do You Have to Store Tomatoes in the Fridge?
No — in fact, you should always store whole tomatoes at room temperature until they’re fully ripe. As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, storage conditions below 55° Fahrenheit...
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Can You Safely Eat Cooked Chicken That's Still Pink?
Yes, cooked chicken that’s still pink can be safe to eat, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture — but only if the chicken’s internal temperature has reached 165° F throughout. As the USDA points out...
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Is it Safe to Refreeze Thawed Steak?
It depends on how you thawed the steak. When Is It Safe to Refreeze Steak? It’s fine to refreeze steaks — as long as you thawed them in the refrigerator and kept them there for no more than three to f...
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How Long Does Thawed Steak Last in the Fridge?
If you thawed the steaks in the refrigerator, you’ve got some time. Safely keeping thawed steak in the fridge Steak that’s been defrosted in the fridge can be safely kept for an additional 3 to 5 days...
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Can You Freeze Milk Successfully?
You can certainly freeze milk successfully if you plan to use it for cooking purposes. If you’re hoping to drink it, you may or may not be satisfied with the end result — it’s a matter of personal pre...
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Is Canned Tuna Still Safe After the Best By Date?
Yes, the tuna should be fine — provided you’ve been storing it properly and the unopened can isn’t damaged. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, “Best By,” “Best if Used By,” and “Use By”...
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Should You Eat Steak That's Turning Brown?
The steaks should be fine, given that you’ve been storing them properly. Why Is Your Steak Turning Brown? As the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, it’s normal for fresh meat to change color d...
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I Forgot to Refrigerate Food - Will Reheating Make it Safe?
No, unfortunately that’s not always the case. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, reheating your lasagna might indeed kill the bacteria that were likely produced when it sat out overni...
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What is a Safe Refrigerator Temperature?
It’s important to keep the temperature of your refrigerator at or below 40° F. Any warmer than that, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the types of bacteria that can cause both food spoi...
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How Long Can Yogurt Sit Out Before It Becomes Unsafe To Eat?
You can safely leave yogurt out at room temperature for two hours — or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit — says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Yogurt that has been lef...
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Does Olive Oil Last Longer if You Store it in the Fridge?
It’s not necessary, but depending on where you live, it may be a good idea. An opened bottle of olive oil will usually keep well for up to two years when stored in a dark cupboard at normal room tempe...
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Do You Have to Refrigerate Strawberries?
Your strawberries should be fine. You can safely store whole, fresh fruits at room temperature, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Whole straberries will generally keep for one to days at normal...
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Is it Safe to Eat a Burger That's Still Pink Inside?
Yes, a cooked burger that’s pink on the inside can be safe to eat — but only if the meat’s internal temperature has reached 160°F throughout. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, it’s not...
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How Can You Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe?
Watermelon doesn’t ripen any further once it has been picked, so it's worth your while to select it carefully at the store. To determine if a watermelon is ripe, you should look for two key clues. Fir...
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How Long Does Thawed Chicken Last in the Fridge?
If you thawed the chicken in the refrigerator, you don't have to cook it right away. Safely keeping thawed chicken in the fridge Poultry that’s been defrosted in the fridge can be safely kept for an a...
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Can You Freeze Raw Eggs for Later Use?
Yes, you can successfully freeze raw eggs for later use. As the American Egg Board notes, fresh eggs will generally freeze well for up to a year. How to Freeze Raw Eggs For best results, you’ll need t...
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Can You Safely Reuse Marinade?
It’s okay to reuse the marinade as a sauce, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture — but only if you bring it to a full rolling boil first and only if the marinade has been kept constantly refrigerat...
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Is Raw Ground Beef OK If It's Turning Brown?
Your ground beef is probably fine. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, it’s common for the inside portion of packaged ground beef to become more brown or gray in color, even while the ou...
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How Long Does a Thawed Ham Last in the Fridge?
If you thawed the ham in the refrigerator, you’ve got a few days. Safely keeping thawed ham in the fridge Ham that’s been defrosted in the fridge can be safely kept for an additional 3 to 5 days in th...
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How Long Can You Leave Frozen Ground Beef in the Freezer?
From a safety perspective you have nothing to worry about - ground beef that has been in the freezer for a year will still be safe to eat. But the quality will likely have suffered. As the U.S. Depart...
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Can You Cook a Frozen Ham Without Thawing It First?
Yes — as the U.S. Department of Agriculture points out, you can cook frozen meat, including ham, in the oven without defrosting it first. You’ll need to allow for some extra cooking time, though. It g...
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