Keep raw and cooked pork safe in the fridge and freezer

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Raw pork chops, roasts, tenderloin, ribs, and shoulder last 3 to 5 days in the fridge from the day you buy them. Ground pork lasts 1 to 2 days, and cooked pork, pulled pork included, keeps 3 to 4 days.

The times here come from USDA FoodKeeper and the USDA’s refrigerator and freezer charts. Ham and sausage have guides of their own.

How long does pork last in the fridge?

Raw pork lasts 3 to 5 days in the fridge from the date you buy it, and ground pork lasts 1 to 2 days. USDA FoodKeeper gives the 3 to 5 days to chops and loin roasts, bone-in or boneless, and to tenderloin, ribs, and shoulder.

Keep pork at 40°F (4°C) or below, and cook or freeze it before that time runs out. In the table, fridge times for raw pork count from the date of purchase, and freezer times are for best quality.

How long are pork chops good in the fridge?

Raw pork chops are good for 3 to 5 days in the fridge, bone-in or boneless. Once you cook them, pork chops keep 3 to 4 days, the USDA time for cooked meat leftovers.

How long does ground pork last?

Ground pork lasts 1 to 2 days in the fridge and keeps its best quality for 3 to 4 months in the freezer. The USDA gives all ground meat the same 1 to 2 days in the fridge.

How long is cooked pork good in the fridge?

Cooked pork is good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. That’s the time the USDA’s refrigerator storage chart gives for cooked meat, poultry, and fish leftovers.

It applies to any pork you’ve cooked, from roasts and chops to tenderloin and ribs. If you won’t eat it within 3 to 4 days, freeze it.

How long is pulled pork good for in the fridge?

Pulled pork is good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge, the same as other cooked pork. Freeze any you won’t finish by then.

How long does pork last in the freezer?

Raw pork chops, roasts, tenderloin, ribs, and shoulder keep their best quality for 4 to 12 months in the freezer. Ground pork is best within 3 to 4 months, and cooked pork within 2 to 3 months.

These times are for quality, not safety. Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, as the USDA explains in Freezing and Food Safety. Pork frozen longer is still safe but lower in quality.

Can you freeze pulled pork?

Yes, you can freeze pulled pork, and it keeps its best quality for 2 to 3 months. That’s the USDA freezer time for cooked meat.

Is freezer-burned pork safe?

Yes, freezer burn doesn’t make pork unsafe, only dry in spots. It shows up as grayish-brown leathery spots where air reached the surface, and you can cut those parts away before or after cooking.

How to thaw pork safely

Thaw pork in the fridge, in cold water, or in the microwave, the three safe ways in the USDA’s guide to safe defrosting. Never thaw pork on the counter.

• Pork thawed in the fridge can be refrozen without cooking, with some loss of quality.
• For cold water, keep the pork in a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold tap water, and change the water every 30 minutes. Cook it right after it thaws.
• Pork thawed in the microwave must be cooked right away.

How long can pork sit out?

Pork can sit out for no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). That goes for raw and cooked pork alike.

Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. The USDA calls this range the Danger Zone.