Here's How Long Eggs & Other Foods Can Actually Last In The Fridge

Bread so hard it'll break your teeth and yogurt that smells like primordial ooze. How long can some foods last in the fridge before they start resembling a science experiment gone wrong? What's a good breakfast without bacon? This breakfast meat is one of the most popular choices for American eaters, but it's also equally loved by pathogens like salmonella. Uncooked opened bacon should last between 7 and 10 days in the fridge if it is properly stored in an airtight container. If you purchase bulk packs of bacon, you can freeze each in its original packaging and a layer of foil, plastic wrap or a plastic container. Unopened bacon can last up to two weeks in the fridge, but up to two months in the freezer. To determine if your bacon has indeed spoiled, check the smell and the color first. Fresh bacon should be a white or pink color, while spoiled bacon will appear a dismal shade of Gray or brown. Spoiled bacon will also emit a foul, unmistakable odor. No, I wear my bacon. I gotta tell you something, bacon is good for me. No matter what kind of bread you've got, putting it in the fridge is always a bad idea. This is because the cool temperature causes the starches in the bread to crystallize and become hard. When you bite into a slice of bread that has been refrigerated, you'll notice the texture is stale. According to Master class, the best way to prevent your bread products from staleness and molding is to put the product in a well ventilated wrapping, like paper or cloth, to discourage mold growth. If you're making French toast or bread pudding and stale bread is permissible, you can leave loaves of bread in the fridge for up to two weeks, per the USDA. Bread products left on the countertop typically last at room temperature for up to four days. Freezing bread products is another option as well. Slice the bread into individual pieces and store it in small bags in the freezer. This will make the bread easier to cut when you want to eat a slice for breakfast. There's no good bagel without a slathering of cream cheese. This soft cheese contains a high moisture content, so refrigeration is imperative to keeping the cheese safe for consumption. Cream cheese can last a few weeks in the refrigerator past its sell by date, but it is first important to inspect the cheese before eating it. Spoiled cream cheese will appear yellow in color and may even have tiny mold flex spread throughout. You should also throw out your cream cheese if you notice pockets of moisture pulling adjacent to dry spots. Unopened cream cheese typically last a month past its purchase date, while opened cream cheese should be consumed within 10 days. You can also freeze cream cheese to extend its shelf life. This soft cheese can last up to two months in the freezer. If you're 1 to top your toast with a layer of Jelly, you'll be happy to know that this condiment is fridge friendly. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, full sugar cooked jellies made with pectin should last about a month in the fridge after opening. This shelf life may be shortened if the container is left out at room temperature for long periods. To extend the shelf life as as long as possible, try to scoop out the jam or Jelly you plan to use and return the jar to the fridge immediately. Low sugar jams and jellies will have a shorter shelf life. Jams stored in the freezer are only good for three to four weeks in the refrigerator. Be wary of liquids seeping from the jams and jellies, as well as yeasty aromas that may signify a spoiled spread. Yogurt is a delicious probiotic treat. This fermented milk product is filled with beneficial bacteria, protein, and healthy fats. Yogurt can cut diabetes risk by almost 20%. Plus, you'll be happy to know that yogurt has a relatively long shelf life in your refrigerator. Unopened yogurt can last between two to three weeks after opening in the refrigerator or up to two months in the freezer. Greek yogurt, which contains a slightly different blend of bacteria than traditional yogurt, lasts up to two weeks in the fridge and less than a month in the freezer. There are some important signs to note that signify your yogurt has gone bad. Spoiled yogurt emits a pungent, acidic odor and potentially bloats the yogurt container. You may also see a cloudy layer forming on top of the yogurt. A thin, almost translucent layer of liquid is normal. This is just the way, but cloudy yogurt can signify bacteria that will make you sick. Orange juice is a must have for breakfast and brunch alike. Although you might be tempted to leave orange juice out for your guests to enjoy, that might not be the best idea. Leaving perishable foods like orange juice out for more than two hours or less than an hour at 90°F can prompt the spread of pathogens like E coli. Lactic acid bacteria can start fermenting the juice over time as well, thus altering the flavor of the juice. Pasteurized store bought orange juice can withstand more time out of the fridge than fresh squeezed orange juice. Fresh orange juice last two to three days in the fridge, according to Chew the World. In comparison, pasteurized orange juice can last up to seven days in the fridge after it's opened. If the orange juice is unopened, it can last up to five days past the Best Buy date on the carton. If you're baking muffins in bulk, it may be more beneficial to pop the muffins in your refrigerator until you're ready to eat. 1 savory muffins typically last about 6 days in the refrigerator. Ingredients like cheese and meat may cause the muffins to spoil if you forgo refrigeration. Sweet muffins such as blueberry and chocolate chip muffins should be kept away from the refrigerator to preserve the soft, crumbly texture. To store your muffins in the fridge, first line the container with a layer of paper towel. This will absorb the moisture from the muffins and keep each one super fresh. After the muffins are in the container, add another layer of paper towel on top to absorb the remainder of the moisture. You can freeze the muffins for up to three months in a resealable bag and reheat individual muffins when you feel the craving hit. You'll also want to be sure to cool your freshly baked muffins before storing them. This prevents moisture from building up in the container and further damages the muffins texture. Maple syrup is a must have for pancakes and waffles, but the better question is where should you store it? I love syrup. Oh, I love it. Maple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator to slow the growth of mold and bacteria for up to six months. If you plan to leave your Maple syrup in the fridge for more than three months, we recommend transferring the syrup to a glass or tin container. This is because the plastic breathes and can make the syrup susceptible to pathogen takeover. Once transferred to another container, the Maple syrup should last about a year. As with all food products, monitor for changes in the taste, texture, and smell of the syrup over time. Tortillas are versatile and essential for breakfast wraps, so it is important to always have a few fresh ones on hand. Tortillas don't have to go in the fridge. Mass produced wheat tortillas can last between 16 and 45 days, either at room temperature or in the fridge. There are some caveats to this though. Tortillas should be kept in an airtight bag to maintain maximum freshness. If you don't plan on using tortillas for a while, you can always pop these flat breads in the freezer and take them out as needed. Unlike flour tortillas, corn tortillas do not stay fresh for as long. Corn tortillas last about 10 days at room temperature for up to 8 weeks in the fridge. No savory breakfast is complete without a bit of heat. Not all hot sauces require refrigeration because pepper, vinegar and salt make the contents unfavorable to pathogens. But homemade hot sauces or those made with a dairy, egg or mayonnaise base must be refrigerated to prevent foodborne illnesses. Adding hot sauce to a refrigerator, even if it's not absolutely necessary, can prolong the shelf life. The average hot sauce lasts anywhere from two to five years. The refrigeration can also maintain the color of the hot sauce and brighten the flavor a little bit. In short, don't kick yourself if you leave the hot sauce out overnight, but try to keep it someplace cool, like the fridge, so you can enjoy some spice for as long as you can. Unlike dry cheese, shredded cheese must be refrigerated because of its high moisture content. The Food Network recommends storing any type of fridge cheese, especially stinky cheese, in the crisper drawer of the fridge. The humidity in this drawer is contained and will keep your cheese tasting fresh for longer. When placing your cheese back in the fridge, always make sure to press the air out of the bag to keep your cheese moist. Healthline suggests eating shredded cheese within five to seven days of opening the bag. You were eating the cheese, weren't you? Out of the rat traps, no. Well, yes, I mean, I was eating the old cheese to test it to see why the rats weren't eating it. While you can freeze cheddar shreds for up to two months, freezing will dramatically change the texture and flavor of the product. Only freeze cheese if you absolutely have to, or if you plan on making a dish where the texture of the cheese isn't too important. Chocolate milk is a childhood favorite. After opening, this beverage will last up to a week after it's sold by date printed on the package. Since chocolate milk contains dairy, it should always remain refrigerated. Always store chocolate milk in its original package and away from the doors of the fridge to prevent contamination and preserve the integrity of the milk. Like other dairy products, chocolate milk should only be frozen with caution. Although chocolate milk can last a few months in the freezer, it will have a grainy texture once it is thawed. If you plan on using chocolate milk for baking or milkshakes, freezing the milk may be an acceptable option. Otherwise, we recommend buying a fresh carton when you need it. Grits are half of the classic Southern breakfast shrimp and grits. But alas, grits do not survive well in the fridge. While uncooked grits can last up to five years in a pantry, cooked grits only last about one week in the fridge. Spoiled grits are easily identified by a rancid smell and color change, as well as potential mold spots forming on the surface. In the pantry, Instant grits tend to last longer than stone ground grits. If you choose to place your containers of grits in the fridge rather than a pantry, you'll find that instant grits last about two years, while stone ground grits only last about a year after the printed date. Coffee Creamer is an ingredient most folks have to have in their house at all times. Boat Basin Cafe notes that unopened dairy creamers last about two weeks past the expiration date in the fridge. If you open the flavorful coffee additive, most companies generally recommend consuming the Creamer within a week. Dairy creamers need to be refrigerated because of potential pathogen transmission. If you're concerned with the shelf life of your refrigerated Creamer, you can try using a powdered Creamer made with fat and sugar. These powders do not require refrigeration and can last several months if stored in a dark, dry location. What's breakfast without the classic egg? Whether you like your eggs scrambled over easy or fried, it's important to keep these eggs as fresh as possible. Whole eggs last about four to five weeks in the fridge. For best results, store your eggs in their original container and do not put them on your refrigerator door. The constant opening and closing of the fridge can prematurely spoil your eggs. Instead, leave the carton in a consistently cold location in your fridge. If the eggs are removed from the shelf, the shelf life decreases significantly. Egg yolks or beaten eggs should be consumed within two days, while egg whites are good for up to four days.