How long does meat last in the fridge?
Short answer: Raw ground meat and raw chicken keep 1–2 days in the fridge. Raw steaks, chops and roasts keep 3–5 days. Cooked meat keeps 3–4 days. Freeze anything you won't use in time.
Meat in the fridge: raw and cooked
| Meat | Raw | Cooked |
|---|---|---|
| Ground beef, pork or turkey | 1–2 days | 3–4 days |
| Chicken and turkey | 1–2 days | 3–4 days |
| Steak, chops and roasts | 3–5 days | 3–4 days |
| Fresh sausage | 1–2 days | 1 week if fully cooked |
| Bacon | 1 week | — |
| Deli meat (opened) | — | 3–5 days |
| Hot dogs (opened) | — | 1 week |
| Ham, store-wrapped cooked (sliced) | — | 3–5 days |
| Fish | 1–3 days | 3–4 days |
| Shrimp | 3–5 days | 3–4 days |
Count from the day you bought raw meat, or the day you cooked it. "Sell by" dates on meat are for the store; use the times above instead. Want an exact date? Use the leftovers expiration calculator.
Signs meat has gone bad
A sour smell, a slimy or sticky surface, or a gray-green color mean it's spoiled. But meat can carry bacteria that cause food poisoning with none of these signs, so go by the days, not your nose.
Make meat last longer
- Freeze raw meat on the day you buy it if you won't cook it within the fridge time. Ground meat keeps 3–4 months frozen, steaks 4–12 months.
- Keep raw meat on the bottom shelf in a container or on a plate so juices can't drip onto other food.
- Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder. A cheap fridge thermometer tells you for sure.
- Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter. Ground meat thawed in the fridge keeps another 1–2 days.
Common questions
How long can raw meat stay in the fridge?
Raw ground meat and raw chicken: 1–2 days. Raw steaks, chops and roasts: 3–5 days. Freeze it if you won't cook it by then.
How long does cooked meat last in the fridge?
3–4 days for most cooked meat and poultry. Freeze it within that time to keep it longer.
Is meat OK after the sell-by date?
The sell-by date is for the store. Raw ground meat and chicken keep 1–2 days after you buy them and steaks 3–5 days, whatever the sell-by date says.
Can you eat meat that's been in the fridge for a week?
Not if it's raw ground meat, raw chicken or cooked meat. Those limits are 1–2 days raw and 3–4 days cooked. Bacon, hot dogs and fully cooked sausage keep about a week.
How long food lasts
Source: FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart. This page is general information, not medical advice. When in doubt, throw it out.