Here's How Long Your Favorite Foods Last in the Fridge and Freezer

If you've got leftovers of egg, chicken, ham, tuna or macaroni salads from a party, they can be kept in the fridge for three to four days, but they don't freeze well.

Opened or unopened, these should only be kept frozen for one to two months. If you've got them in the fridge, open packages can last about a week while unopened packages can last up to two weeks.

If you have sliced meats from the deli counter (or an open package of pre-sliced meats), they can be kept in the fridge for three to five days and frozen for one to two months. Unopened packages will last about the same in the freezer but up to two weeks in the fridge.

Frozen pizzas have expiration dates, but if you are putting some leftover slices in the freezer, they should be eaten within two months. The box with the half-eaten pizza should only stay in your fridge for about three to four days.

Mmmm ... bacon. This tasty treat can be kept in the fridge for a week and you can freeze it for up to a month.

It doesn't matter if you prefer turkey, pork, chicken or beef sausage — they've all got the same rules. Kept raw, they can be left in the fridge for just two days. Your best bet if you aren't using the links right away is to put them in the freezer where they can stay one to two months. If they are fully cooked, they can stay up to a week in the fridge and one to two months in the freezer. If you've purchased your sausage frozen, it can be kept three to four days after cooking and one to two months from date of purchase in the freezer.

Those containers of mystery foods, no matter the contents, should be removed from the fridge after four days. Hint: If you can't remember what's in your storage containers, its definitely time to clean them out. If your leftovers contain cooked meat or chicken, they can stay in the freezer for up to six months (unless it's chicken nuggets or patties, which should only stay frozen for one to three months).

Finfish (as opposed to shellfish) can be stored in the fridge for one to three days (FYI, you'll notice a smell if it's gone bad). Fattier fishes like bluefish, catfish, salmon and tuna can be frozen for two to three months, while leaner fishes like cod, flounder and haddock can be kept frozen for six to eight months.

Hamburger and other ground meats like turkey, chicken, veal, pork and lamb can stay prepped in the fridge for just two days — you'll know when they start to change color and turn a little gray. These products can last about four months frozen.

Beef, veal, lamb or pork in steak, chop or roast form are best used within three to five days in the fridge and four to 12 months in the freezer.

Eggs have different rules depending on the preparation. Raw eggs should never be frozen in the shell and can last three to five weeks in your fridge. Raw egg whites can be frozen (the yolks don't freeze well) and last about a year. Hard-boiled eggs and unopened egg substitutes should never be frozen but are safe for about a week if they are refrigerated. Casseroles and quiches that contain eggs should be consumed within three to four days of baking or two to three months if stored in the freezer.

You've made a huge pot of your favorite soup and definitely want to freeze some for future meals, right? That's great. Any stews with vegetables and meats can be safely kept frozen for two to three months.

If you've got a whole chicken or turkey, these items can stay in the fridge up to two days and in the freezer for a year (that is, assuming you've got that much freezer space). If your chicken and turkey come in pieces, these can be frozen for up to nine months.

Fresh crab meat and lobster can stay two to four days in the fridge and two to four months in the freezer. Live crab and lobster can only stay a day in the fridge and shouldn't be frozen. Live clams, mussels, oysters and scallops should also not be frozen but they can stay five to 10 days in the fridge. Shrimp and crayfish can be refrigerated for three to five days and frozen for six to 18 months. Squid can be frozen the same length of time, but should only be kept in the fridge for one to three days.

Ham has a lot of storage recommendations, depending on the quantity and how it's prepared. In general (unless it's in a sealed can), ham has a lot shorter shelf life than many other meats. Fresh, uncured and uncooked ham is the best for freezing and can stay cold for up to six months. Cured but uncooked ham lasts three to four months in the freezer. Canned ham (like SPAM) can last a long time, but once opened it should only stay in the fridge three to four days. Dried hams, like Prosciutto or Serrano, can stay up to three months in the fridge and only one month in the freezer. Cooked country ham should be eaten from the fridge within a week and removed from the freezer after a month.

If you are getting ahead on your baking, pies that have eggs in them, like pumpkin or custard, can be stored in the fridge for three to four days and should be kept refrigerated at all times unless it's being served. Pumpkin pies can be frozen for up to two months, but you shouldn't freeze custard or chiffon pies. Fruit pies don't have specific guidelines but can be frozen.