Select a Language

Close Window

How Long Will Items Last in the Freezer or Refrigerator?

Have you ever wondered how long your frozen food will last? Or, can you eat a canned good after the expiration? Maybe even which method of storage is the best? Well, if you have ever wondered about any of these things, keep reading for more information on food storage. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), proper home food storage helps maintain safety and food quality by keeping flavor, color, texture, and nutrients in food. 

Pantry items –  Many staples and canned foods have a relatively long shelf life. However, foods stored for longer than recommended times or beyond the date on the package may change quality, color, and flavor. 

Home Food Storage – Dry Foods

Refrigerated foods –  Refrigerators should be kept at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below. At that temperature, bacterial growth is slowed and quality is maintained. Time limits will keep refrigerated food from spoiling or causing someone to become ill. Because product dates are not a guide for the safe use of a product, here are a few tips to follow:

  • Purchase the product before “sell-by” or expiration date. 
  • Follow handling recommendations on product. 
  • Keep meat and poultry in their package until just before using. 
  • If freezing meat and poultry in its original package longer than 2 months, cover these packages with heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Or, place the package inside a freezer bag. 

More “Dates” – 

  • “Best if Used By” on the package-labeling if the date is simply related to optimal quality, not safety. If the products have changed noticeably in color, consistency, or texture, consumers may want to avoid eating them. 
  • “Use By” date labels you see on packaged foods relate to the quality of the product, but predicting when food will no longer be of adequate quality for consumption is not an exact science. 

Freezer – Freezers should be kept at 0°F (-18°C) or lower. Because freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended freezer storage times are for quality (flavor, color, texture, etc.) only. It is also very important to purchase thermometers for both your refrigerator/freezer. You can find them in the housewares section of department, appliance, culinary, and grocery stores. Buy two! Place one in your refrigerator and one in your freezer. 

Two more tips: 

  • Place the thermometer in the front of the refrigerator/freezer in an easy-to-read location. 
  • Check temperature regularly — at least once a week. 

NOTE: If the freezer compartment isn’t a separate freezer compartment but a compartment inside the refrigerator, it may be impossible to obtain a 0ºF temperature. One sign of this will be soft ice cream. Plan to use food within a few weeks. 

Written By Toi Degree, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Rowan County Center

 

Did you know that many fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be grown in containers? Container gardening is a great way to grow your own food when you have limited space. A patio, windowsill, balcony, or entry area can be a great location to grow edible plants which also bring beauty and interest to those spaces. Even if you live in the city, you can incorporate container gardening into the space you have and grow your own food throughout the year. 

Benefits of container gardening 

Gardening provides not only the opportunity to grow your own food at home, but also provides physical and mental health benefits. As little as five minutes of gardening can improve self-esteem and mood, and can be a good source of exercise. Growing food at home can also be educational for children, to help them learn about where food comes from. Containers have additional benefits to in-ground gardens, as they can be raised or lowered in height to make access easier. They can also be used to overcome poor soil or soilborne diseases and pests, and can be moved indoors during winter or extreme weather events as well as to extend the growing season.

Right plant, right place, right time 

To set up your container garden for success, it is important to select plant varieties that are well-suited for containers and to plant at the appropriate time of year based on the plant. Many plants can grow well in containers, but not all. Choose edibles that have a small footprint (like radishes, lettuces, carrots) or plant varieties that are compact or miniature. Also consider vining varieties, as you can train vines up trellises and take advantage of vertical space. Additionally, selecting varieties that have disease and pest resistance can help combat these issues, should they arise. There are many varieties out there with different textures, tastes, and colors, so pick plants you are excited about! Also use a planting calendar to help you determine the right time of year to plant and to estimate when you will be able to harvest each crop. 

What plants can grow well in containers? 

The plants listed here are by no means an exhaustive list of the options out there. Vegetables that can grow well in containers in the Piedmont include beans (lima and snap), beets, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, kale, peas, squash, tomatoes, lettuce, and potatoes. Fruits include apples, blueberries, grapes, figs, citrus, peaches, and strawberries. Herbs such as basil, dill, chives, lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, parsley, stevia, thyme, and tarragon are also good choices. And if we did not mention your favorite veggie or fruit, do some research to see if it would do well in a container! North Carolina Cooperative Extension can help you to look into this. 

How to select containers 

There are many options for containers, including various materials, shapes, and sizes. Suitable materials include clay, metal, plastic, or wood. Important requirements for containers are: 1) they are large enough to accommodate your plant at full size, 2) they have adequate drainage for water to leave, 3) they can hold soil without it spilling out, and 4) they do not contain any substances toxic to plants or people. Good options for containers include flower pots, barrels, window boxes, and those made of rot-resistant wood like cedar or cypress. Most containers need to be at least 6-8 inches deep to allow healthy root systems to develop. 

Additional considerations for container gardens 

Select locations for containers where there is enough light for your plant’s needs. Most vegetables grown for their fruit need at least 5 hours of direct sunlight daily, but will do better with 8-10 hours. Root or leaf crops can typically do well in partially shaded areas. For soil, use a light-weight potting mix, as soil directly from your yard can be too heavy if there is a fair amount of clay. Watering is even more important for plants grown in containers, as their smaller soil volume can dry out quickly. Plant nutrition is also important to consider. If using a soil mix with fertilizer added, there will likely be enough nutrients for 8-10 weeks. After this, apply a water-soluble fertilizer at the recommended rate. 

To close, container gardening is a great way to grow foods you love and to make the most of your small space. By selecting varieties that are well-suited for containers and by planting at the right time of year, you can have vegetables, fruits, and herbs to eat year-round and enjoy the beauty they can bring to your home.

Written By Meredith Favre, Local Foods Extension Agent, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Lee County Center

Whether it is mowing the lawn, working in the garden, baling hay, or two a day’s sports practice, we spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer months. When you are outside in the heat, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. We need fluids to keep our bodies properly cooled. Without ample water, you can experience muscle cramping, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. 

How do you know how much fluid you need? Children need from 4 to 11 cups of total water (total beverages, including water) a day. Adults need from 9 to 13 cups of total water (total beverages, including water) a day. The amount depends on your age, gender, level of physical activity, altitude and climate. During hot weather, you will need more, but do not go by thirst alone. To prevent dehydration, it is important to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day, even before going outdoors. One way to tell if you are drinking enough fluids is to check the color of your urine. Your urine shouldbe light yellow in color. If it is a dark color, you need to drink more water.

Be conscious about drinking enough water. Although we all know that water is essential, stress the importance of water to others around you, including children. It is a good idea to drink two cups of fluid two hours before practice or outdoor activities, to promote adequate hydration. It is also a good idea for coaches to mandate players to drink about four liters of fluid during practice; otherwise they may not drink enough. Larger volumes of fluid intake during exercise are associated with greater cardiac output, greater skin blood flow, lower core temperature, and a reduced rating of perceived exertion. 

When taking in fluids, only use water or sports drinks. Avoid caffeinated, highly sweetened and carbonated beverages. These have the potential to dehydrate and contribute to nausea. Water is great for the purpose of re-hydration, but sports drinks are designed to make you want to drink more. Children will drink more sport drinks than they will water because it has more taste and contains salt, which increases their thirst. 

It is important to understand the symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are dizziness; cold, clammy skin; nausea and headaches. The symptoms of heat stroke are high body temperature and dry skin; confusion; and unconsciousness. People suffering from heatstroke will feel chilly and have tingling arms and goosebumps. If you feel these symptoms, get out of the heat and seek immediate medical treatment. Begin cooling down with ice baths or other means.

Please do not ignore your body in this heat. Plan for your fluid intake before you go outside. Too much exposure to the heat combined with dehydration could be fatal for you or someone you love. Be sure you take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of water

Written By Addie Wilson, County Extension Director, N.C. Cooperative Extension, Yadkin County Center

The Steps to Health Program strongly encourages families to make mealtime, family time.  October is Eat Better, Eat Together Month. This month join the national movement to eat more meals as a family.

Eating meals together is a great opportunity to catch up on what’s happening at school, work, etc. Today’s busy lifestyles make it seem impossible to share meals as a family but set a goal to share at least one meal a day.

Planning meals ahead of time is the key to success. Select a day and time when all of the family members can plan meals for the week together. Incorporate everyone’s ideas into the planning. Be sure to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy, as well as, lean meats. Next, check the refrigerator and cupboards to see which items you already have for the week’s meals. Write a shopping list for the items that you need. Involving children in this process can help develop their reading, writing, and organizational skills. Take your shopping list to the grocer and stick to purchasing only the items on the list. Now, you are ready for the week!

Allow the children to help prepare the meal by completing cooking tasks based on their age and ability. They can also help set the table. Remember, clean-up is everyone’s responsibility.

 

Written by Cheri Bennett, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, North Carolina Cooperative Extension