Category · 93 foods

Meat Storage Times

How long beef, pork, lamb, ham, bacon and sausage last on the counter, in the fridge and in the freezer — opened and unopened. Sourced from USDA FoodKeeper, last verified November 2026.

Fresh meat

93 of 93 foods · sorted A–Z

	Counter		Fridge (unopened)		Freezes well?
Bacon	2 hours	1 week	1 week	1 month	Yes
Beef jerky	Refrigerate	2–3 months	12 months (pantry)	Not listed	—
Beef short ribs	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Beef stew meat	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Beef tongue	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Bison	2 hours	3–5 days	—	6–9 months	Yes
Bone-in pork chops	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Bone-in pork loin roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Bone-in rib roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Bone-in veal loin roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Boneless canned ham (refrigerated)	2 hours	3–5 days	6–9 months	1–2 months	Yes
Boneless leg of lamb	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Boneless picnic ham	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Boneless pork loin roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Boneless rib roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Boneless veal leg roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Boneless veal shoulder roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Bratwurst	2 hours	2–3 days	—	2–3 months	Yes
Brisket	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Brisket and chuck roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Canned ham (shelf-stable)	Refrigerate	5–14 days	6–9 months (pantry)	Not listed	—
Canned meat	Refrigerate	3–4 days	5 years (pantry)	Not listed	—
Chitterlings	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Chuck roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Cooked chorizo	2 hours	1 month	1 year (pantry)	6 months	Yes
Corned beef	2 hours	5–7 days	—	1 month	Yes
Country ham	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fresh boneless picnic ham	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fresh chorizo	2 hours	1–2 days	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fresh half ham (bone-in)	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fresh ham shank	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fresh pork butt roll	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fresh whole ham (bone-in)	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Fully cooked bacon	Refrigerate	5–14 days	6 months (pantry)	Not listed	—
Goat meat (whole cuts)	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Goat stew meat	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Ground beef	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Ground bison	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Ground goat	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Ground lamb	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Ground pork	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Ground veal	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Half beef tenderloin	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Half cooked ham (bone-in)	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Homemade jerky	1–2 months	1–2 months	—	Not listed	—
Hot dogs	2 hours	1 week	2 weeks	1–2 months	Yes
Kielbasa and smoked sausage	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Lamb chops	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Lamb crown roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Lamb kabob cubes	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Lamb leg steaks	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Lamb shanks	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Lamb shoulder roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Lamb stew meat	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Large bone-in leg of lamb	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Large pork crown roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Liver	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Meat in retort pouches	Refrigerate	3–4 days	Not recommended (pantry)	Not listed	—
Meat pâté	2 hours	7 days	—	Not listed	—
Organ meats (liver, tongue)	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Pastrami	2 hours	40 days	—	Not listed	—
Pepperoni	2 hours	2–3 weeks	—	1–2 months	Yes
Pork chops	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Pork loin cubes	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Pork medallions	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Pork ribs	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Pork roll	2 hours	7 days	Use-by date	Not listed	—
Pork shoulder	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Pork tenderloin	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Prosciutto	2 hours	2–3 months	—	1 month	Yes
Rabbit	2 hours	2 days	—	9 months	Yes
Raw beef kabobs	2 hours	1–2 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Raw sausage	2 hours	1–2 days	—	1–2 months	Yes
Refrigerated canned ham	2 hours	6–9 months	—	Not recommended	No
Rolled lamb breast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Round roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Small bone-in leg of lamb	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Small pork crown roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Smoked bratwurst	2 hours	5–7 days	—	2–3 months	Yes
Spiral ham	2 hours	3–4 days	—	1–2 months	Yes
Steak	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Stuffed pork chops	2 hours	1–2 days	—	9 months	Yes
Uncooked boneless leg ham	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Uncooked half leg ham (bone-in)	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Uncooked smoked chorizo	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Uncooked whole leg ham (bone-in)	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes
Uncured bacon	2 hours	4–7 days	—	3–4 weeks	Yes
Uncured cooked ham	2 hours	3–4 days	—	3–4 months	Yes
Uncured fresh ham	2 hours	3–5 days	—	6 months	Yes
Vacuum-packed ham	2 hours	2 weeks	—	1–2 months	Yes
Venison roast	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Whole beef tenderloin	2 hours	3–5 days	—	4–12 months	Yes
Whole cooked ham (bone-in)	2 hours	1 week	—	1–2 months	Yes