Five Easy Steps for Spring-Cleaning your Refrigerator and Freezer

FROZEN & REFRIGERATED Time Charts
FROZEN FOOD		REFRIGERATED FOOD
PRODUCT	TIME	PRODUCT	TIME
Burritos/Sandwiches	2 months	Milk	7 days
Meatballs	9-12 months	Milk Alternatives	7-10 days
Chicken	6-9 months	Cheese	1 week
Shrimp	1 year	Butter	2-3 weeks
Vegetables	8-12 months	Margarine	1 month
Fruits	9-12 months	Liquid Coffee Creamer	1-2 weeks
Fish	3-4 months	Cottage/Ricotta Cheese	1 week
Entrees/Breakfast	3-4 months	Yogurt	1-2 weeks
Ice Cream/Novelties	2-3 months	Sour Cream	1-3 weeks
Pie/Cake	6-8 months	Cream Cheese	2 weeks
Bread/Rolls	2-3 months	Eggs	3-5 weeks
Bagels	2 months	Egg Substitutes	3 days
Whipped Topping	6 months	Refrigerated Juices	7-10 days
Pancakes/Waffles	2-3 months
Egg Substitutes	12 months	*Pay attention to "sell by," "use by" and "best if used by" dates on products to enjoy before they expire.
Pizza	4-6 months

Properly storing foods can help maintain their quality, taste and safety. Use this handy chart as a guide, but when in doubt, throw it out!

3. Clean

Remove drawers and shelves and clean in sink with warm soapy water; set aside to dry. Spray interior with cleaner and wipe from the top down with warm, wet sponge or towel. Thoroughly dry all and replace drawers and shelves. Wash the exterior door and handles. Replace water and icemaker and filters if needed. Clean grill on bottom front of refrigerator. Consider cleaning the condenser coils for optimum cooling efficiency (refer to manufacturer directions).

4. Check Temps

Food kept too long or at improper temperatures can become contaminated with bacteria, which can cause foodborne illness. Your refrigerator temperature should be at or below 40 degrees and your freezer 0 degrees or less to ensure food safety. You can check the temperatures with an appliance thermometer.

5. Organize

When restocking your clean refrigerator and freezer, organize according to usage and group like items together. Label and date new foods so you know when to use or throw out. Do not store perishable foods in the door as temperatures fluctuate there. Place meat, poultry or seafood in containers or sealed plastic bags and keep fruits and vegetables in separate drawers away from the meats to avoid cross-contamination.

About National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association
NFRAis a non-profit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. NFRA sponsors national promotions March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month and June/July Ice Cream & Novelties; and provides consumer information such as food safety guidelines, meal preparation tips, recipes and sweepstakes opportunities through its Easy Home Meals consumer website and social media properties.