Keeping your family safe from foodborne organisms that can contaminate beef must be made a priority. When purchasing raw beef put the packages into a disposable plastic bag in order to minimize cross-contamination from any leakages, and immediately refrigerate beef when you get home. Follow the “Use-By” date on the package, or if the package does not have a “Use-By” date and instead has a “Sell-By” date or no date, cook or freeze the beef as follows.
- Beef hot dogs and lunch meats in sealed packages will keep for 2 weeks (or 1 week after their “Use-By” dates) in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 1 to 2 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Beef hot dogs in an opened package will keep for 7 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 1 to 2 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Canned beef pantry products will keep for 2 to 5 years in a pantry or for 3 to 4 days (after opening) in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 2 to 3 months (after opening) in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Cooked beef broth or beef gravy will keep for 1 to 2 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 2 to 3 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Home cooked beef casseroles, soups, or stews will keep for 3 to 4 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 2 to 3 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Fresh beef roast, chops, ribs, or steaks will keep for 3 to 5 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 6 to 12 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Fresh beef liver or variety meats will keep for 1 to 2 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 3 to 4 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Jerky that is commercially vacuum packaged will keep for 1 year in a pantry or for 2 to 3 months in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F, but do not freeze.
- Lunch meats in an opened package will keep for 3 to 5 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 1 to 2 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- Store-cooked convenience meals will keep for 1 to 2 days in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F and for 2 to 3 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.
- TV dinners and frozen casseroles will keep for 3 to 4 months in a freezer set at 0 degrees F.