Making food ahead of time at home can save drivers thousands of dollars every year. Not only that, it’s healthier and it allows you to eat the food that you love instead of settling for the quickest option on the road, or the same burger you’ve been eating for years. One problem that many drivers have is knowing just how long they can store pre-cooked or even raw ingredients in the fridge or freezer.
We’ve put together this quick guide to help you with some general rules of thumb when it comes to storing pre-cooked, homemade meals.
| Category | Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salads | Egg, chicken, ham, tuna & macaroni salads | 3 to 5 Days | Does Not Freeze Well |
| Hot Dogs | Opened Package | 1 Week | 1 to 2 Months |
| Unopened Package | 2 Weeks | 1 to 2 Months | |
| Lunch Meat | Openened Package or Deli Sliced | 3 to 5 Days | 1 to 2 Months |
| Unopened Package | 2 Weeks | 1 to 2 Months | |
| Bacon | Bacon | 1 to 2 Days | 1 Month |
| Sausage | Raw from Chicken, turkey, pork or beef | 1 to 2 Days | 1 to 2 Months |
| Ground Meet | Ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb, or any mixture of them | 1 to 2 Days | 3 to 4 Months |
| Fresh Meat | Steaks, Chops and Roasts of beef, Pork, Lamb or Veal | 3 to 5 Days | 4 to 6 Months |
| Fresh Poultry | Chicken and Turkey (whole or pieces) | 1 to 2 Days | 9 Months |
| Soups and Stews | Any Variety | 3 to 4 Days | 2 to 3 Months |
| Leftovers | Cooked meat, pasta, rice, sauces and so on | 3 to 4 Days | up to 6 Months |
