Refrigerator/Freezer Storage Times

If you have ever wondered how long you can keep ham burgers in your freezer or how long to keep butter in your refrigerator, here are some tips and recommended storage times for both your freezer and refrigerator. Keep refrigerator temperature between 34 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep foods wrapped or placed in airtight containers, unless otherwise noted, to keep food from drying out and odors from transferring to other foods. Meats should be kept in the coldest part of the refrigerator and vegetables stored in the crisper.Keep your freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for storage that is longer than a week or two. Always wrap foods in heavy-duty foil or freezer paper, or place in freezer containers to guard against freezer burn.Label and date all foods that go into the freezer so it is easy to identify the packages and use within the recommended dates. [Another option is to put the "use by" date on the package when you freeze it. Then you won't have to figure it out when you take it out later.] For large freezers, make an inventory list that includes the date each item was placed in the freezer. Then post it on the freezer door for quick reference.