Meat: how long does it last?

88 meat items with published storage times, 10 of them with a specific after-opening window.

Updated 2026-08-07 · Free · No sign-up

ItemAfter openingUnopened / otherStore at
Bacon (fully cooked)5–14 days6 monthsCool, dry pantry unopened; refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below after opening
Bacon (meat)1 week1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Bacon (uncured)4–7 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (chuck roast, brisket)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (ground)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (rib roast, bone-in)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (rib roast; boneless, rolled)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (round or rump roast)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (short ribs)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (steaks)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (stew, cubes)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (tenderloin, half)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Beef (tenderloin, whole)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Bison (ground)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Bison (whole)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Bratwurst (fresh)2–3 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Bratwurst (smoked and processed)5–7 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Chorizo (fresh)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Chorizo (smoked and processed, cooked)1 month1 yearCool, dry pantry unopened; refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below after opening
Chorizo (smoked and processed, uncooked)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Corned beef (in pouch with pickling juices)5–7 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Goat (ground)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Goat (less tender whole cuts (stew meat, riblets, shanks))3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Goat (tender whole cuts (legs, ribs, shoulder, loin))3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (canned (keep refrigerated label))6–9 monthsRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (country ham (whole or half))1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, arm picnic shoulder, boneless)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, half)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, bone-in, whole)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, shank or butt portion, bone-in)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, cook-before-eating, shoulder roll (butt), boneless)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, uncooked, half leg, bone-in)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, uncooked, whole leg, bone-in)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fresh, uncooked, whole leg, boneless)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fully cooked, arm picnic shoulder, boneless)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fully cooked, bone-in, half)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fully cooked, bone-in, whole)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fully cooked, canned, boneless (refrigerated))3–5 days6–9 monthsRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fully cooked, slices, half, or spiral cut)3–4 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (fully cooked, vacuum packed, boneless)2 weeksRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (shelf-stable cans)5–14 days6–9 monthsCool, dry pantry unopened; refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below after opening
Ham (uncured, fresh, cooked)3–4 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Ham (uncured, fresh, uncooked)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Hot dogs1 week2 weeksRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Jerky (commercially dried)2–3 months12 monthsCool, dry pantry unopened; refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below after opening
Jerky (homemade)1–2 monthsCool, dry pantry, or refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below to keep it longer
Lamb (breast, rolled)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (chops, ribs, or loin)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (crown roast)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (cubes for kabobs)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (ground)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (leg steaks)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (leg, bone-in - large)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (leg, bone-in - small)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (leg; boneless, rolled)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (shanks)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (shoulder roast or shank leg half)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Lamb (stew meat, pieces)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Meat products (canned)3–4 days5 yearsCool, dry pantry unopened; refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below after opening
Pastrami40 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pate (meat)7 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (crown roast - large)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (crown roast - small)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (ground)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (loin chops, bone-in)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (loin chops, boneless)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (loin roast, bone-in)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (loin roast, boneless)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (loin, cubes)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (ribs)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (shoulder)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (tenderloin medallions or loin cubes)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork (tenderloin)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Pork roll7 daysUntil the package use-by dateRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Prosciutto2–3 monthsRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Rabbit (whole, fresh)2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Raw kabobs with vegetables (meat)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Retort pouches or boxes (meat)3–4 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Sausage (fully cooked smoked links, kielbasa)1 weekRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Sausage (hard, dry (pepperoni), sliced)2–3 weeksRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Sausage (raw bulk type or patties)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Stuffed, raw pork chops1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Veal (ground)1–2 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Veal (leg rump or round roast, boneless)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Veal (loin roast, bone-in)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Veal (shoulder roast, boneless)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below
Venison (round, rump, loin, or rib roast)3–5 daysRefrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below

Tap any item for its full storage table, spoilage signs, and storage tips. A dash means no figure is published for that situation — not that it keeps forever.

Spotting spoilage in meat

General guidance for the category, not a per-product finding. When in doubt, throw it out.

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