Category · 54 foods

Dairy & Eggs Storage Times

How long milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream and eggs last on the counter, in the fridge and in the freezer — opened and unopened. Sourced from USDA FoodKeeper, last verified November 2026.

Eggs

Yogurt, sour cream & toppings

7 foods

54 of 54 foods · sorted A–Z

	Counter		Fridge (unopened)		Freezes well?
Almond milk	2 hours	7–10 days	Use-by date	Not listed	—
Brie	2 hours	1–2 weeks	—	6 months	Cooking only
Butter	Not recommended	1–2 months	—	6–9 months	Yes
Buttermilk	2 hours	1–2 weeks	—	3 months	Cooking only
Cheddar cheese	Refrigerate	3–4 weeks	6 months	6 months	Cooking only
Cheese curds	Not recommended	2 weeks	—	4 months	Cooking only
Cheese slices (processed)	Not recommended	3–4 weeks	—	Not recommended	No
Coconut milk	2 hours	7–10 days	Use-by date	Not listed	—
Cottage cheese	2 hours	1 week	2 weeks	Not recommended	No
Cream cheese	2 hours	2 weeks	—	Not recommended	No
Egg dishes	2 hours	3–4 days	—	2–3 months	Yes
Egg whites	2 hours	2–4 days	—	12 months	Yes
Egg yolks	2 hours	2–4 days	—	12 months	Yes
Eggnog	2 hours	3–5 days	—	6 months	Yes
Eggs	2 hours	3–5 weeks	—	Not recommended	No
Ghee	6–8 months	1–2 years	—	Not listed	—
Goat cheese	2 hours	1–2 weeks	—	6 months	Cooking only
Half and half	2 hours	3–4 days	—	4 months	Cooking only
Hard cheese	Refrigerate	3–4 weeks	6 months	6 months	Cooking only
Hard-boiled eggs	2 hours	1 week	—	Not recommended	No
Heavy cream	2 hours	10 days	—	3–4 months	Cooking only
Kefir	2 hours	1–2 days	1 week	Not recommended	No
Lactose-free milk	2 hours	1 week	Not recommended (pantry)	Not recommended	No
Light cream	2 hours	1 week	—	3–4 months	Cooking only
Liquid coffee creamer	2 hours	3 weeks	—	Not listed	—
Liquid egg substitute	2 hours	3 days	7 days	Not recommended	No
Margarine	Not recommended	6 months	—	12 months	Yes
Milk	2 hours	1 week	—	3 months	Cooking only
Nacho cheese	2 hours	2 weeks	2 years (pantry)	3 months	Cooking only
Parmesan cheese	Refrigerate	3–4 weeks	6 months	6 months	Cooking only
Parmesan cheese (grated)	Not recommended	12 months	—	Not recommended	No
Pimento cheese	2 hours	4 weeks	Use-by date	Not listed	—
Powdered coffee creamer	2–3 months	Not needed	2 years (pantry)	Not needed	—
Powdered milk	3 months	Not needed	3–5 years (pantry)	Not needed	—
Pudding	2 hours	2 days	Use-by date	Not recommended	No
Quark	2 hours	7–10 days	—	Not listed	—
Raw egg whites and yolks	2 hours	2–4 days	—	12 months	Yes
Rice milk	2 hours	7–10 days	Use-by date	Not listed	—
Ricotta	2 hours	1 week	2 weeks	Not recommended	No
Shredded cheese	Not recommended	1 month	—	3–4 months	Cooking only
Shredded mozzarella	Not recommended	1 month	—	3–4 months	Cooking only
Soft cheese	2 hours	1–2 weeks	—	6 months	Cooking only
Sour cream	2 hours	Use-by date	—	Not recommended	No
Sour cream dip	2 hours	2 weeks	—	Not recommended	No
Soy milk	2 hours	7–10 days	Use-by date	Not listed	—
String cheese	Not recommended	5 months	—	Not listed	—
Swiss cheese	Refrigerate	3–4 weeks	6 months	6 months	Cooking only
Vegan cheese	Refrigerate	3–7 days	4 months	Not listed	—
Whipped cream (aerosol can)	2 hours	3–4 weeks	—	Not recommended	No
Whipped cream (homemade, sweetened)	2 hours	1 day	—	1–2 months	Cooking only
Whipped topping (aerosol can)	2 hours	3 months	—	Not recommended	No
Whipped topping (tub)	2 hours	2 weeks	—	14 months	Cooking only
Whipping cream	2 hours	1 week	1 month	Not recommended	No
Yogurt	2 hours	1–2 weeks	—	1–2 months	Cooking only