Title
Storing Food
Many foods can be stored safetly at room temperature. However, if food was refrigerated or frozen at the store, it is generally best to keep it in a similar environment at home, unless you are preparing to cook it right away or thaw it for cooking within a safe timeframe. Some shelf stable foods will need to be refrigerated once opened — always read the package for recommendations.
Cold Storage
Keep cooled foods safe by storing them in appropriate temperatures as quickly as possible – and do not let perishable food stay at room temperature for more than two hours. The two-hour safety window starts as soon as frozen, raw, or refrigerated food is taken from a cold grocery shelf, refrigerator, freezer, or cooler. Transport time counts too!
Thawing Frozen Foods
Follow safe practices for thawing frozen food. Improper thawing can create an environment where bacteria can grow and multiply quicky on the food, leading to an increased chance of foodborne illness.
Have More Food Storage Questions?
Check out USDA's FoodKeeper resource for a comprehensive list of refrigeration and freezer recommendations for a wide variety of foods and beverages. The resources is also available as the FoodKeeper App on both Android and Apple devices!