One of the most common reasons families throw away food is simple: they don't know how long it actually lasts. So they guess. And when in doubt, they bin it.
This guide gives you the exact storage times for the most common foods in your fridge — so you can stop guessing and start saving money.
Meat and Fish
Raw meat and fish are the riskiest items in your fridge. They spoil faster than most people think.
| Food | Fridge (days) | Freezer (months) |
|---|---|---|
| Raw chicken (whole or pieces) | 1–2 days | 9–12 months |
| Raw beef mince | 1–2 days | 3–4 months |
| Raw beef steaks/chops | 3–5 days | 6–12 months |
| Raw pork | 3–5 days | 4–6 months |
| Raw fish fillets | 1–2 days | 2–3 months |
| Cooked chicken | 3–4 days | 2–6 months |
| Cooked beef/pork | 3–4 days | 2–3 months |
| Bacon (opened) | 5–7 days | 1 month |
| Deli meats (opened) | 3–5 days | 1–2 months |
Dairy and Eggs
| Food | Fridge (days/weeks) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (opened) | 5–7 days | Smell test is reliable |
| Eggs (raw) | 3–5 weeks | From purchase date |
| Hard cheese (opened) | 3–4 weeks | Wrap tightly in wax paper |
| Soft cheese (opened) | 1–2 weeks | Check for mould |
| Yoghurt (opened) | 5–7 days | After opening |
| Butter | 1–3 months | Covered in fridge |
| Cream (opened) | 3–5 days | After opening |
Vegetables
| Vegetable | Fridge (days) | Storage tip |
|---|---|---|
| Spinach / salad leaves | 3–5 days | Keep dry, don't wash until use |
| Broccoli | 3–5 days | Store loose, not in sealed bag |
| Carrots | 3–4 weeks | Remove tops, store in water |
| Cucumber | 5–7 days | Wrap cut end in cling film |
| Bell peppers | 5–7 days | Keep whole until using |
| Mushrooms | 5–7 days | Paper bag is better than plastic |
| Celery | 1–2 weeks | Wrap in foil to last longer |
| Courgette/zucchini | 4–5 days | Don't wash until using |
| Tomatoes | 5–7 days | Better stored at room temp |
Fruit
| Fruit | Fridge (days) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberries | 3–5 days | Don't wash until eating |
| Blueberries / raspberries | 5–7 days | Keep in original punnet |
| Grapes | 1–2 weeks | Keep unwashed |
| Apples | 4–6 weeks | Away from other fruit |
| Cut melon | 3–4 days | Wrap cut face tightly |
| Citrus (oranges, lemons) | 2–4 weeks | Room temp is fine too |
Leftovers and Cooked Food
This is where most households lose money. Leftovers go in the fridge with good intentions — and get forgotten.
| Cooked food | Fridge (days) | Freeze? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked rice | 1–2 days | Yes — up to 1 month |
| Cooked pasta | 3–5 days | Yes — up to 2 months |
| Soup / stew | 3–4 days | Yes — up to 3 months |
| Casserole / curry | 3–4 days | Yes — up to 3 months |
| Cooked vegetables | 3–5 days | Most yes — except potato |
| Pizza (cooked) | 3–4 days | Yes — up to 2 months |
How to Stop Forgetting What's in Your Fridge
Knowing the storage times is only half the problem. The other half is actually remembering what you have and when it expires. That's where most families lose money — not from buying bad food, but from buying good food and forgetting about it.
Eatvora solves this automatically. You scan your grocery receipt when you get home and it adds everything to your pantry with estimated expiry dates. When something is about to expire, it sends you an alert and suggests what to cook with it.
The average family using Eatvora rescues $80–$120 worth of food per month simply by knowing what needs to be used first.
Never throw away food again
Eatvora tracks your expiry dates and tells you what to cook before food goes bad. Free to download.
Download Eatvora FreeQuick Reference: The Foods That Expire Fastest
- Raw chicken and mince — 1–2 days. Freeze immediately if not cooking today.
- Fresh fish — 1–2 days. Cook the day you buy it or freeze it.
- Spinach and salad leaves — 3–5 days. Use early in the week.
- Strawberries — 3–5 days. Eat within a few days of buying.
- Cooked rice — 1–2 days. Eat the next day or freeze.
- Soft cheese — 1–2 weeks. Easy to forget at the back of the fridge.
- Opened cream — 3–5 days. Use in coffee, pasta, or soup.
Keep this page bookmarked, or better yet, let Eatvora track it for you automatically.