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Meat, Poultry & Seafood Shelf Life Guide
Fresh and cooked meats, poultry, and seafood — 42 products covered
Meat, poultry, and seafood are high-risk foods for bacterial contamination and require careful handling and storage. Raw proteins should always be stored at 40°F (4°C) or below and consumed within their recommended timeframes. This comprehensive guide covers shelf life data for fresh, cooked, cured, and frozen meats sourced from USDA and FDA food safety guidelines.
Meat, Poultry & Seafood Shelf Life at a Glance
| Product | Unopened | Opened | Refrigerated | Frozen | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon | — | — | 7 days | 1 month | CAUTION |
| Canned Salmon | 3-5 years | — | 3-4 days | 2-3 months | CAUTION |
| Canned Sardines | 3-5 years | — | 3-4 days | — | CAUTION |
| Canned Tuna | 3-5 years | — | 3-4 days | 2-3 months | CAUTION |
| Cooked Beef | — | — | 3-4 days | 2-3 months | CAUTION |
| Cooked Chicken | — | — | 3-4 days | 2-6 months | CAUTION |
| Cooked Pork | — | — | 3-4 days | 2-3 months | CAUTION |
| Cooked Shrimp | — | — | 3-4 days | Up to 3 months | CAUTION |
| Deli Roast Beef | — | — | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months | CAUTION |
| Deli Turkey | — | — | 3-5 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Fish Sticks Frozen | — | — | 1-2 months | 6-8 months | SAFE |
| Frozen Chicken Nuggets | 12 months | 1 week | 1 week | 12 months | CAUTION |
| Frozen Lasagna | 6-12 months | 3-5 days | 3-5 days (after opening) | 6-12 months | CAUTION |
| Frozen Shrimp | — | — | 1-2 days | 6-12 months | HIGH |
| Ham Sliced | — | — | 3-5 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Ham Whole | — | — | 3-5 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Hot Dogs | — | — | 1 week | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Pepperoni | — | — | 3 weeks | 1 to 2 months | SAFE |
| Prosciutto | — | — | 3-5 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Raw Beef Roast | — | — | 3-5 days | 6-12 months | CAUTION |
| Raw Beef Steak | — | — | 3-5 days | 6-12 months | CAUTION |
| Raw Chicken Breast | — | — | 1-2 days | 9 months | HIGH |
| Raw Chicken Thighs | — | — | 1-2 days | Up to 9 months | HIGH |
| Raw Clams | — | — | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | HIGH |
| Raw Crab | — | — | 1-2 days | 3-6 months | HIGH |
| Raw Ground Beef | — | — | 1 day | 3-4 months | HIGH |
| Raw Ground Pork | — | — | 1 day | 3-4 months | HIGH |
| Raw Ground Turkey | — | — | 1-2 days | 3-4 months | HIGH |
| Raw Lamb Chops | — | — | 1-2 days | 6-9 months | HIGH |
| Raw Lobster | — | — | 1-2 days | 3-6 months | HIGH |
| Raw Oysters | — | — | 1-2 days | 3 months | HIGH |
| Raw Pork Chops | — | — | 3-5 days | 4-6 months | CAUTION |
| Raw Pork Roast | — | — | 3-5 days | 4-6 months | CAUTION |
| Raw Salmon | — | — | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | HIGH |
| Raw Sausage | — | — | 1-2 days | 1-2 months | HIGH |
| Raw Scallops | — | — | 1-2 days | 3-6 months | HIGH |
| Raw Shrimp | — | — | 1-2 days | 3-6 months | HIGH |
| Raw Tuna Steak | — | — | 1 day | 2-3 months | HIGH |
| Raw Whole Chicken | — | — | 1-2 days | Up to 1 year | HIGH |
| Salami | 6 weeks to 6 months (dry, cured salami) | — | 3 weeks | 1 to 2 months | SAFE |
| Sausage Cooked | — | — | 3-4 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Smoked Salmon | — | — | 3-5 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
How to Store Meat, Poultry & Seafood Properly
- Store raw meat on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination with other foods.
- Use raw poultry within 1-2 days of purchase, or freeze immediately for longer storage.
- Cooked meats should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking (1 hour if ambient temperature exceeds 90°F).
- Wrap meats tightly in freezer-safe packaging to prevent freezer burn — double-wrapping is recommended.
- Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator, never on the counter. Allow 24 hours per 5 pounds of meat.
Signs of Spoilage in Meat, Poultry & Seafood
Spoiled meat typically develops a slimy or sticky surface, turns gray or green, and produces a strong, unpleasant odor. Fresh poultry should be pink with no strong smell. Seafood should smell like the ocean, not fishy. When in doubt, discard — foodborne illness from spoiled meat can be severe.
All Meat, Poultry & Seafood Products (42)
Bacon
CAUTION Refrigerated 7 days
View full safety guide
Canned Salmon
CAUTION Unopened 3-5 years
Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Canned Sardines
CAUTION Unopened 3-5 years
Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Canned Tuna
CAUTION Unopened 3-5 years
Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Cooked Beef
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Cooked Chicken
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Cooked Pork
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Cooked Shrimp
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Deli Roast Beef
CAUTION Refrigerated 3 to 5 days
View full safety guide
Deli Turkey
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Fish Sticks Frozen
SAFE Refrigerated 1-2 months
View full safety guide
Frozen Chicken Nuggets
CAUTION Unopened 12 months
Refrigerated 1 week
Opened 1 week
View full safety guide
Frozen Lasagna
CAUTION Unopened 6-12 months
Refrigerated 3-5 days (after opening)
Opened 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Frozen Shrimp
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Ham Sliced
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Ham Whole
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Hot Dogs
CAUTION Refrigerated 1 week
View full safety guide
Pepperoni
SAFE Refrigerated 3 weeks
View full safety guide
Prosciutto
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Raw Beef Roast
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Raw Beef Steak
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Raw Chicken Breast
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Chicken Thighs
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Clams
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Crab
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Ground Beef
HIGH Refrigerated 1 day
View full safety guide
Raw Ground Pork
HIGH Refrigerated 1 day
View full safety guide
Raw Ground Turkey
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Lamb Chops
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Lobster
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Oysters
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Pork Chops
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Raw Pork Roast
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Raw Salmon
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Sausage
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Scallops
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Shrimp
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Raw Tuna Steak
HIGH Refrigerated 1 day
View full safety guide
Raw Whole Chicken
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days
View full safety guide
Salami
SAFE Unopened 6 weeks to 6 months (dry, cured salami)
Refrigerated 3 weeks
View full safety guide
Sausage Cooked
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-4 days
View full safety guide
Smoked Salmon
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does raw meat last in the fridge?
Ground meat and poultry last 1-2 days. Steaks, roasts, and chops last 3-5 days. Fresh fish lasts 1-2 days. Always store at 40°F or below and use by the sell-by date for best quality.
How long can you freeze meat?
Frozen meat remains safe indefinitely, but quality degrades over time. Ground meat is best within 3-4 months, steaks and roasts within 4-12 months, and poultry within 9-12 months. Proper wrapping prevents freezer burn.
How can you tell if meat has gone bad?
Check for a slimy or tacky surface, grayish-brown or green discoloration, and a sour or ammonia-like smell. If the meat feels sticky or has an off odor, discard it immediately regardless of the date on the package.