Food safety and meat
Every year, approximately one out of every six people—or about 48 million individuals—contract foodborne illnesses in America, leading to around 128,000 hospitalizations and causing roughly 3,000 fatalities, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (If this has happened to you before, you may have questioned whether you were going to die, even though your situation was not serious enough to require medical care.)
However, where exactly do these foodborne illnesses originate? Identifying the precise source of outbreaks can be challenging, yet the CDC calculates that approximately half can be traced back to meat and seafood products.
“When it comes to avoiding illness from animal products, it’s essential to learn how to properly handle and cook meat and seafood, including knowing how to store it both before and after cooking,” says Candess Zona-Mendola, a food and water safety advocate and editor of MakeFoodSafe.com.
Animal products may harbor harmful pathogens as well as spoilage-causing bacteria. Although refrigeration helps slow down bacterial proliferation, it does not entirely halt their growth, says the USDA. Refrigeration guidelines for prepared meats aim at keeping foods inside safe limits concerning various kinds of bacterial development. This applies beyond just meat; we have comprehensive details about which items should be kept cool. sell-by date ” means, how long milk lasts , expired eggs and foods you should never eat past the expiration date.
For how long can you keep cooked meat in the refrigerator?
The short answer is, generally one to five days, depending on the type of meat, how it was cooked and how it was handled, says Zona-Mendola.
Americans already squander a staggering quantity of quality edibles , often due to uncertainty regarding the safety of cooked leftovers—but as Emily Broad Leib, JD, who directs the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School, points out, much of our food remains wholesome, edible, and safe well beyond the expiration date listed on the package.
There are a few exceptions, including deli meat and unpasteurized dairy products, which can increase in risk over time, so you should throw those away once they are past the date on the package, she adds. “Do use your best judgment and use your senses. If it smells or looks spoiled, it probably is,” Leib says.
But for how long does that last? leftover hamburger or chicken was put in the refrigerator last after cooking it All meats must be kept in a securely closed container within a fridge maintained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. According to Dana Gunders, who serves as the executive director of ReFED and authored "Waste Free Kitchen Handbook," this practice ensures safe storage of prepared meats and minimizes food wastage. Waste-Free Kitchen She mentions that freezing food can significantly prolong the freshness of cooked meats for a longer period. It's important to keep freezers at zero degrees or below; here’s how you can check this setting accurately. If your freezer is at the correct temperature .
We have the expert advice you need to confidently and safely store cooked meat.
Chicken
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–5 months
Purchase precooked chicken breasts in large quantities or Costco rotisserie chicken , then freeze individual portions in freezer bags so you only need to thaw out as much as you require.
Turkey
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–5 months
According to guidelines, there are three secure methods to defrost frozen meat and poultry: in the fridge, submerged in cold water, and using a microwave. USDA However, they prefer to enhance the taste and consistency of the meat by letting it defrost on a tray in the fridge over night. Here are some pointers for selecting the ideal turkey.
Beef
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–5 months
If you defrost more meat than needed, you can securely refreeze thawed meat within two to four days provided it was thawed inside your fridge. Yet, if the meat was defrosted on your counter or using a microwave, do not refreeze it. Instead of discarding it, consider cooking the thawed meat and subsequently freezing it once it has cooled down.
Pork
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–5 months
If meal prepping is your thing, think about getting yourself some suitable equipment. vacuum sealer . These allow you to tightly wrap raw or cooked pork (or other meats and foods) without any air bubbles for better results when freezing.
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Ham
Refrigerator: 3–5 days
Freezer: 1–2 months
Various types of ham might remain fresh for an extended period when stored in the freezer, with their longevity being influenced by factors such as whether they have bones or not, and if they've been cured. A piece of cured ham removed from the bone and properly sealed could stay good for up to four months when kept frozen.
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Precooked hot dogs
Refrigerator: 7 days or expiration date
Freezer: 1–2 months
Bacon
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 1 month
Both cooked and raw bacon can be frozen. safely. For folks who only want to cook a few slices at a time, roll up individual slices of bacon, place on a tray and freeze overnight. Once frozen, put them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to cook, just take out as many slices as you need. Next, find out when does butter expire .
Sausage
Fresh cooked sausage
Refrigerator: 3–4 days
Freezer: 2–3 months
Precooked or preserved sausage
Refrigerator: 3 weeks
Freezer: 1–2 months
If you plan to freeze peppers and onions as accompaniments for your sausage, it's preferable to precook them. Many vegetables have high water content, causing them to become soft when frozen uncooked.
Canned sausage? Below is all the information you should know about it. How long does canned food remain good for? .
Fish
Refrigerator: 2–3 days
Freezer: 1 month
Most fish should only be kept in the refrigerator for a day or two, but grilled salmon will keep up to four days in the fridge before needing to be frozen. When freezing raw fish, be sure to wrap tightly in freezer paper before putting it into a plastic bag.
Precooked deli meat
Refrigerator: If unopened, for 2 weeks; 3-5 days after opening or once the use-by date has passed.
Freezer: 1–2 months
Yes, you can freeze deli meat If it has been opened, enclose it in plastic wrapping and place it in a sealed bag; it should remain fresh for one to two months when stored in the freezer. For unopened packages of deli meat, you can freeze them directly in their original packaging, though adding an extra layer of protection with another plastic bag might help prevent freezer burn.
Deli salads
Refrigerator: 3–5 days
Delicatessen salads like chicken, tuna, egg, or pasta salad can typically stay fresh for three to five days when stored in the refrigerator and should not be frozen. Why? Because mayonnaise is one of the ingredients involved. The items of food you should absolutely avoid freezing. because when it thaws, it will separate, taking on a clumpy texture that’s anything but appetizing. Or try these foods that never expire .
Sources:
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Attributing Foodborne Illnesses, Hospitalizations, and Mortalities to Specific Food Categories Using Outbreak Data from 1998-2008 in the United States
- Candess Zona-Mendola, a food and water safety advocate and editor of MakeFoodSafe.com
- Emily Broad Leib , JD, faculty director, Food Law and Policy Clinic, Harvard Law School
- Dana Gunders , executive director of ReFED and author of Waste-Free Kitchen
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