Keeping food waste to a minimum is a battle every household has to struggle with. A use-by date is great, but you know once you’ve opened a package, things often won’t necessarily last as long as promised. The information below should help you judge how long you have to use a range of food types after the package has been opened.

Of course, you always have to be careful when it comes to food. These values are meant as a guideline only. Always check and smell your food. If there’s any sign of spoilage or something doesn’t smell quite right, throw it away.

*The following values are guidelines only and refer to products once their packaging has been opened. Always adhere to a product’s use-by date.

Eggs

Fresh, in shell: 3 - 5 weeks

Raw yolks, whites: 2 - 4 days

Hard boiled: 1 week                      

Supermarket Products

Egg, chicken, tuna, pasta salad: 3 - 5 days

Ready meals: 3 - 4 days

Stuffed meat: 1 day

Hamburgers and mince

Hamburgers, stewing meat and beef, pork, turkey and lamb mince: 2 - 3 days

Ham and corned beef

Corned beef: 5 - 7 days

Cooked ham, whole: 7 days

Cooked ham, slices: 3- 5 days

Lunch and deli meat

All varieties: 3- 5 days

Soups and stews

Vegetable/meat soups and stews: 3 - 4 days

Bacon and sausage

Bacon and smoked sausages: 7 days

Sausages: 3 - 4 days

Fresh meat

Steaks, chops and roasts: 3 - 5 days 

Offal and sweetbreds: 1 -2 days

Cooked meat leftovers

Cooked meat dishes and leftovers: 3 - 4 days

Gravy and broth: 1 - 2 days

Fresh poultry

Chicken and turkey, whole or parts (breasts, thighs, etc.): 1 - 2 days 

Cooked poultry leftovers

All varieties: 3- 4 days

Fish and shellfish

Lean and fatty fish: 1- 2 days

Prawns, scallops, squid: 1- 2 days

Cooked fish: 3- 4 days

Smoked fish: 14 days