The Ultimate Fridge Guide Everyone Needs For Always-Fresh Food (Part 2)
In the previous article, we mapped out the best Storage Placements for various food types in your fridge, from door to freezer! This time, let's look at the average Shelf Life for each food group that's crucially affected by these factors:
1. Growth of Microorganisms
2. Loss/ Gain of Food Moisture
3. Changes due to Exposure to Different Temperatures and Light
4. Transmission of Different Gasses
While we are usually advised to follow the expiry dates on the food packages, it's important to know not only what causes your food to turn bad but how long they're typically stored for until it is unfit for consumption.
Continue to complete reading our Ultimate Fridge Guide so you can always have safe fresh food ready at home and the cleanest space to store them in!
Dairy Products
Most Dairy Products need proper refrigeration so as to maintain its quality and freshness. Without it, bacteria grows more rapidly and are harmful to your health if consumed. If you find that they spoil even before the best-before date on the food package, your fridge may be too warm.
- Milk: 3-14 Days
- Butter: 7-15 Days (Unsalted), 30 Days (Salted)
- Eggs: 7 Days (Cooked), 1-2 Months (Uncooked)
- Cheese: 7 Days (Soft), 1-2 Months (Hard)
- Yogurt: 1-2 Months
- Ice Cream: 14 Days (Opened), 2-4 Months (Unopened)
Recommended Organizers:
Beverages
Apart from juice, it's safe to say that most beverages can sit out of the fridge for a while, unopened. You can safely consume it cold or warm as they are considered non-perishable food items. As for alcohol that's under 15% or with the base of wine, it should go in the fridge once it's opened.
- Bottled, Canned, Packet: 2-4 Days (Opened), 6-24 Months (Unopened)
- Alcohol: 1-2 Years (Opened), Indefinite (Unopened)
- Juice: 2 Hours (Opened), 7-14 Days (Unopened)
- Water: 2 Years (Still), 12-18 Months (Sparkling)
Recommended Organizers:
Meat & Poultry
Meat and Poultry are highly prone to be a home to bacteria especially when it comes into contact with the air or our hands. To reduce the risk of food poisoning, take note of their environment and keep it properly packaged or separated from other food items to prolong its freshness and shelf life.
*For the shelf life of specific meat and poultry, we recommend searching it up for more accurate details!
- Raw Meat: 2-3 Days (Thawed), Up to 6 Months (Wrapped)
- Leftovers: 3-4 Days (Top Shelf), 2-5 Months (Freezer)
Recommended Organizers:
Fruits & Vegetables
The shelf life of refrigerated of Fruits & Vegetables is fleeting because they ripen at various speed, have unique storing requirements and emit different gasses which could cause contamination easily.
While refrigerating may keep them crisp for a longer time, sometimes it may cause cold damage or prevent them from ripening to good flavour. There are some produce that should be left out of the fridge and stored in a cool, dry and dark place instead because they emit gases (Eg. Apples, Onions, Potatoes) that could lead to rapid decay or lose nutrients (Eg. Tomatoes) in the cold.
*For the shelf life of specific fruits and vegetables, we recommend searching it up for more accurate details!
Fruits
- Freshly Harvested: No longer than 3 Weeks
- Pre-packaged: Up to 12 Months
- Ripened: 1-3 Days
Vegetables
- Freshly Harvested: No longer than 3 Weeks
- Packaged: Up to12 Months
- Canned: 1-2 Years
Condiments
Most Condiments actually do fine at room temperature. However, to keep them fresh for a longer time, refrigeration is absolutely encouraged! The more acidic they are, the more generous their shelf life is.
- Sauces (Including Ketchup, BBQ, Mustard...etc.): 6-12 Months
- Seasonings & Spices: Up to 3-10 Months
Recommended Organizers:
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*Reminder: These stated time periods are only guidelines and should not be followed too strictly. Trust your judgement or doubts - If any food smells or tastes bad, throw it out. Other times, they may still be safe to eat than the stated date, if stored perfectly.
Now you know what to toss and what you can keep for longer in your fridge! With proper Fridge Organizers, your food will not only stay fresh but everything will also be neat, categorised and accessible everyday.
To get you started on your journey with our Fridge Organizers, click here to step into a cooler, new way of storing. Alternatively, you can get it sorted quickly with our Fridge Organizers Bundle!