Dairy Shelf Life
Dairy keeps by the clock that starts when you open it, not by the date on the carton. Most fresh dairy is good for about a week once opened; hard cheese and butter last far longer, and soft fresh cheeses far less. Keep all of it in the body of the fridge rather than the door, where the temperature swings every time it opens.
28 foods · times shown are for the most common state of each food; tap a food for every state, storage tips and spoilage signs.
Butter & spreads
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter Opened |
1–3 months | 6–9 months | 1–2 days |
| Ghee Opened |
6–12 months | 1 year | 3 months |
| Margarine Opened |
2–3 months | 1 year | Not recommended |
Cultured dairy
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttermilk Opened |
1–2 weeks | 3 months | Not safe |
| Greek Yogurt Opened |
1 week | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Kefir Opened |
1–2 weeks | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Sour Cream Opened |
1–3 weeks | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Yogurt Unopened |
1–2 weeks | 1–2 months | Not safe |
Fresh & soft cheese
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cheese Opened |
1–2 weeks | 6 months | Not safe |
| Brie Cut |
1 week | 6 months | Not safe |
| Cottage Cheese Opened |
1 week | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Cream Cheese Opened |
2 weeks | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Feta Cheese Opened |
1 week | 6 months | Not safe |
| Goat Cheese Opened |
1 week | 6 months | Not safe |
| Mozzarella Opened |
1 week | 6 months | Not safe |
| Ricotta Opened |
1 week | Not recommended | Not safe |
Hard & semi-hard cheese
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddar Cheese Opened |
3–4 weeks | 6 months | Not recommended |
| Parmesan Opened |
3–4 weeks | 6 months | Not recommended |
| Shredded Cheese Opened |
1 month | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Swiss Cheese Opened |
3–4 weeks | 6 months | Not recommended |
Milk & cream
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-and-Half Opened |
3–4 days | 4 months | Not safe |
| Heavy Cream Opened |
10 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Milk Opened |
1 week | 3 months | Not safe |
| Whipped Cream Opened |
3–4 weeks | Not recommended | Not safe |
Plant-based milk
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almond Milk Opened |
7–10 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Oat Milk Opened |
7–10 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Soy Milk Opened |
7–10 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
Processed cheese
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Cheese Opened |
1–2 months | Not recommended | Not safe |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature. Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers. Freezer times are best-quality windows at 0°F (−18°C).