Don’t Let Your 4th Of July Cookout End In The Hospital
For most Americans, a 4th of July shopping list includes meat. Raw meat. How far in advance should you buy your meats for the grill so that they don’t spoil before you can cook them on the grill? Here’s a guide to help keep your celebration of the colonial revolution from becoming a colorectal revolt:
Chicken/Other Poultry – Raw chicken will last a day or two in the fridge that is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, and up to a year in the freezer. If the chicken is cooked, it will last a few days longer in the fridge, and two to six months in the freezer.
Beef/Pork/Other Red Meats – These can keep up to five days in the fridge, and four to 12 months in the freezer. If the meats are cooked, they’ll last three to four days in the fridge, and two to six months in the freezer.
Ground Meats – Only one or two days in the fridge, three to four months in the freezer.
Hot Dogs/Sliced Deli Meats – Two weeks unopened in the fridge, but they should be eaten within three to five days after opening. If frozen, they’ll last one to two months.
Bacon/Sausage – Bacon lasts up to a week in the fridge. Raw sausage only lasts two days. When frozen, they both can last for a month, but some sausages can last longer.
Potato Salad/Chicken Salad/Tuna Salad/Egg Salad/Cole Slaw – Three to five days in the fridge. These should never be frozen.
