View Cold Food Storage Limits(PDF, 37KB).
When is it safe to save food, and when should it be thrown out? Check out our handy refrigerated foods guide(PDF, 84KB).
Refrigerated Foods Holding Guide
Dairy
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt |
Discard |
| Butter, Margarine |
Safe |
| Baby formula, opened |
Discard |
Eggs
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products |
Discard |
| Custards and puddings |
Discard |
Cheese
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Soft Cheeses: blue (bleu or imported), brie, camembert, colby, cottage, cream, edam, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, muenster, neufchatel, ricotta, roquefort |
Discard |
| Hard Cheeses: cheddar, parmesan, provolone, romano, swiss |
Safe |
| Processed cheeses: American |
Safe |
| Shredded cheeses |
Discard |
| Low-fat cheeses |
Discard |
| Commercial Grated Hard Cheese purchased in a can or jar (Parmesan, Romano or combination) |
Safe |
Fruits
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Fruit juices, opened |
Safe |
| Canned fruits, opened |
Safe |
| Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates |
Safe |
| Fresh cut-up fruits |
Discard |
| Pastries, cream filled |
Discard |
| Pies - custard, cheese filled or chiffons |
Discard |
| Pies, fruit |
Safe |
Vegetables
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Fresh mushrooms, herbs and spices |
Safe |
| Vegetables, raw |
Safe |
| Vegetables, cooked |
Discard |
| Vegetable juice, Opened |
Discard |
| Baked potatoes |
Discard |
| Commercial garlic in oil |
Discard |
| Potato Salad |
Discard |
Casseroles, Soups, Stews, Meat, Poultry, Seafood
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Fresh or leftover meat, poultry, fish or seafood |
Discard |
| Thawing meat or poultry |
Discard |
| Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, egg salad |
Discard |
| Gravy, stuffing |
Discard |
| Lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef |
Discard |
| Pizza - any topping |
Discard |
| Canned meats (Labeled "Refrigerate after opening") |
Discard |
| Canned hams labeled "Keep Refrigerated" |
Discard |
Bread, Cakes, Cookies, Pasta
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads |
Safe |
| Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough |
Discard |
| Cooked pasta, spaghetti |
Discard |
| Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinegar base |
Discard |
| Fresh pasta |
Discard |
| Cheese cake |
Discard |
| Breakfast foods - waffles, pancakes, bagels |
Safe |
Sauces, Spreads, Jams
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Peanut butter |
Safe |
| Jelly, relish, taco and barbecue sauce, mustard, catsup, olives |
Safe |
| White wine Worcestershire sauce |
Discard |
| Fish Sauce or Oyster sauce |
Discard |
| Hoisin sauce |
Discard |
| Opened vinegar-based dressings |
Safe |
| Opened creamy-based Dressings |
Discard |
Other
| Food Item |
Held above 40°F for over 2 hours |
| Deli-prepared foods - Salads, coleslaw, cooked meats or poultry, luncheon meats |
Discard |
| Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish |
Discard if above 40°F for over 8 hours |
Frozen Food Holding Guide
| Food Item |
Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours |
Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours |
| Meat, Poultry, Seafood |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Beef, veal, lamb, pork and ground meats |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Poultry and ground poultry |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Casseroles, stews, soups |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products |
Refreeze |
Discard |
Dairy
| Food Item |
Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours |
Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours |
| Milk |
Refreeze. May lose some texture |
Discard |
| Eggs (out of the shell) and egg products |
Discard (poor quality) |
Discard |
| Ice cream, frozen yogurt |
Refreeze. May lose some texture |
Discard |
| Cheeses (soft and semi-soft) |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Hard Cheeses |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Shredded cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Cheesecake |
Refreeze |
Discard |
Fruits
| Food Item |
Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours |
Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours |
| Juices |
Refreeze |
Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours |
| Home or commercially packaged or blanched fruit |
Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor loss |
Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours |
Breads, Pastries
| Food Item |
Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours |
Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours |
| Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Pie Crusts |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Commercial and homemade bread dough |
Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur |
Refreeze. Considerable quality loss |
Other
| Food Item |
Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours |
Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours |
| Casseroles – pasta, rice-based |
Refreeze |
Discard |
| Flour, cornmeal, nuts |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Breakfast items – waffles, pancakes, bagels |
Refreeze |
Refreeze |
| Frozen meal, entrée, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat Pie) |
Refreeze |
Discard |