Butter or margarine APPROXIMATE TIME
Keep opened butter in covered dish or closed TYPE (DAYS)
compartment. When storing an extra supply, Chicken 1 to2
wrap in freezer packaging and freeze.
Ground beef 1 to2
Cheese
Steaks and roasts 3 to 5
Store in the original wrapping until you are ready Cured meats 7to10
to use it. Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic
wrap or aluminum foil. Bacon 5 to 7
Leftovers Cold cuts 3 to 5
Cover leftovers with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Variety meats 1 to2
Plastic containers with tight lids can also be used.
l If meat is to be stored longer than the times
Meat given, follow the directions for freezing.
Most meat can be stored in original wrapping as NOTE: Fresh fish and shellfish should be used
long as it is air and moisture proof. Rewrap if the same day as purchased.
necessary. See the following chart for storage
times.
Storing frozen food
The freezer section is designed for storage of Do not use:
commercially frozen food and for freezing food at l Bread wrappers
home.
l Non-polyethylene plastic containers
NOTE: For further information about preparing l Containers without tight lids
food for freezing or food storage times, contact l Waxed paper
your local Cooperative Extension Service or l Waxed-coated freezer wrap
check a freezer guide or a reliable cookbook.
l Thin, semi-permeable wrap
Packaging The use of these wrappings could cause food
The secret of successful freezing is in the odor, taste transfer and drying of frozen food.
packaging. The way you close and seal the
package must not allow air or moisture in or out. Freezing
Packaging done in any other way could cause Do not expect your freezer to quick-freeze any
food odor and taste transfer throughout the large quantity of food. Put no more unfrozen food
refrigerator and drying of frozen food. into the freezer than will freeze within 24 hours.
(No more than 2 to 3 pounds of food per cubic
Packaging recommended for use: foot of freezer space.) Leave enough space for
l Rigid plastic containers with tight-fitting lids air to circulate around packages. Be careful to
l Straight-sided canning/freezing jars leave enough room at the front so the door can
l Heavy-duty aluminum foil close tightly.
Storage times will vary according to the quality
l Plastic-coated paper
l Non-permeable plastic wraps (made from a of the food, the type of packaging or wrap used
(air and moisture proof) and the storage tempera-
Saran film) ture (which should be 0°F [-17.8%]).
Follow package or container instructions for
proper freezing methods.
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ACEC
