Deli & Prepared Foods Shelf Life
Deli foods are ready to eat, which means nothing will be cooked to fix a mistake. Sliced deli meat keeps 3–5 days once opened, mayo-based salads 3–4 days, and both should go back into the fridge immediately after serving. Dry-cured meats such as salami and pepperoni are the long-keeping exceptions.
20 foods · times shown are for the most common state of each food; tap a food for every state, storage tips and spoilage signs.
Cured meat
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperoni Opened |
2–3 weeks | 1–2 months | Not recommended |
| Prosciutto Opened |
3–5 days | 1 month | Not safe |
| Salami Opened |
2–3 weeks | 1–2 months | Not recommended |
Deli meat
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bologna Opened |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Deli Ham Opened |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Deli Roast Beef Opened |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Deli Turkey Opened |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Lunch Meat Opened |
3–5 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
Deli salads
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Salad Prepared |
3–4 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Coleslaw Prepared |
3–4 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Pasta Salad Prepared |
3–4 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Potato Salad Prepared |
3–4 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
| Tuna Salad Prepared |
3–4 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
Dips & spreads
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guacamole Homemade |
1–2 days | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Hummus Opened |
5–7 days | 4 months | Not safe |
Fermented foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimchi Opened |
3–6 months | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Sauerkraut Opened, refrigerated |
4–6 months | Not recommended | Not safe |
Plant protein
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempeh Opened |
5–7 days | 3–6 months | Not safe |
| Tofu Opened |
3–5 days | 3–5 months | Not safe |
Prepared meals
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwiches Prepared |
3–4 days | 1–2 months | 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).