Shelf Life and Storage Tips

[SpiritMan]

There is nothing more important to good food than using fresh ingredients and storing them efficiently and safely.

Some tips:

Dairy Products

Keep butter and margarine in refrigerator 2 to 3 months and frozen 6 to 8 months.

Milk and cream in the refrigerator 1 week and frozen three weeks.

Ice Cream Frozen 1 to 2 months.

Eggs in the shell 4 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator. Eggs, Raw Whites 2 to 4 days in refrigerator, 6 to 9 months frozen. Eggs, Raw Yolks 2 to 4 days in refrigerator, 3 to 6 months frozen. Hard boiled eggs in refrigerator 1 week.

[SpiritMan]

I'm not sure if it's possible everywhere, but I throw away all of my dried herbs like oregano and parsley every six months. I replace them from the bulk section of the health food store. It costs next to nothing compared to buying the jars. It makes a big difference when cooking. I've known people who have used herbs they've had for ten years. YUCK!

[SpiritMan]

Meats Refrigerator:

Roasts, Beef and Pork 3 to 5 days
Steaks, Beef 3 to 5 days
Chops, Pork and Lamb 3 to 5 days
Ground and Stew Meat 1 to 2 days
Sausage, Pork 1 to 2 days

Meats Frozen:

Roasts, Beef and Pork 6 to 12 months
Steaks, Beef 6 to 12 months
Chops, Pork and Lamb 4 to 8 months
Ground and Stew Meat 3 to 4 months
Sausage, Pork 1 to 2 months

[SpiritMan]

Keep meat substitute - Tofu in refrigerator 4 to 5 days or frozen 6 to 8 weeks. The most important thing about storing tofu is to keep it fresh. If it's stored in water, change the water everyday. Tofu absorbs the flavor of the spices and ingredients in the recipe. It should be as tasteless as possible by itself. 

[Tennyson]

My big problem is looking at the expiration date before I buy it, I check dairy but other than that I just seem to never think about until I go to use something and it was expired when I bought it.

[Butterfly]

I'm not sure if it's possible everywhere, but I throw away all of my dried herbs like oregano and parsley every six months. I replace them from the bulk section of the health food store. It costs next to nothing compared to buying the jars. It makes a big difference when cooking. I've known people who have used herbs they've had for ten years. YUCK!

I never even thought about spices expiring until a few years ago when I opened some ground cloves and they smelled like vinegar, LOL.  Now I buy spices in those tiny bottles and replace them yearly.  I did use some year old cloves in the pumpkin pies this past Thanksgiving though.  Only because I went to the store and they wanted over $6 for that little tiny jar !     A week or so later, they had all the spices 1/2 price, so I bought a new jar then.

[Tennyson]

I buy the small jars with exception of the things that my husband thinks he has to have on everything. 

[Illini girl]

I just got a new catalog Penskys spices I am going to order some from them they have a allot of differant things

[Tennyson]

I don't think I have ever heard of that? What exactly is that?

[SpiritMan]

Only because I went to the store and they wanted over $6 for that little tiny jar !     A week or so later, they had all the spices 1/2 price, so I bought a new jar then.

The incredible thing about the price is that if you empty the jars and fill them with fresh bulk spices from a health food store it usually costs less than one dollar per jar for most spices. The easiest way is to take one of the empty jars along and measure the spices with the jar before putting them into bags. That way you won't buy too much.

[Tennyson]

I don't know of any store around here that sells bulk spices, I wish there was because that would work perfect for us. Do you know of any?

[SpiritMan]

My big problem is looking at the expiration date before I buy it, I check dairy but other than that I just seem to never think about until I go to use something and it was expired when I bought it.

Actually, that's not such a big problem. With dairy and meat products it means you have to use it immediately. If you intend to keep something a while, check the back of the store shelves. They put the newer items at the back in order to sell the older items first. I always buy dairy and meat from the back or bottom of the supplies because I'm living alone. It doesn't disappear so quickly. On packaged items the expiration date is an estimate of when it will still be fresh. The most important thing is how long you keep it after it is opened. No matter what the expiration date is, there is a separate limit on how long things survive after opened.

[pesoto74]

I don't know of any store around here that sells bulk spices, I wish there was because that would work perfect for us. Do you know of any?

If you want to go to Champaign I think that Walnut Street Tea Company sells herbs and spices in bulk.  At least they did so for a long time.  I haven't been in there since last Summer.  They are at Neil and Clark Streets. 

[Tennyson]

I don't mind going to Champaign, my husband works there and sometimes when I need something that I can not get in town I make him pick it up while he is there.I will have to look that place up and see if it is still there.

[Illini girl]

I don't think I have ever heard of that? What exactly is that?

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html

here is the link for the spice company I was talking about