Food Storage

There it is on your counter: a stick of butter left out after breakfast. Now you are wondering if it...

You pull a whole dry salami out of the back of the pantry. It has been there for a few weeks and the outside is covered in white powder. In the fridge, there is an open pack of sliced Genoa salami from last Tuesday. Both look a little

The short answer: Mustard does not need to be refrigerated for food safety reasons. Its combination of vinegar, salt, and mustard seed creates a naturally inhospitable environment for bacteria. However, refrigeration after

The nacho cheese came out of the slow cooker an hour ago and there is still some left. Or there is a can of Ricos you opened for game day and are wondering whether the rest goes in the fridge or the trash. Does nacho cheese need to be refrigerated? The short answer

You grabbed a whole pepperoni stick from the unrefrigerated aisle at the grocery store. Now you are home and wondering: should this go in the fridge, or is the pantry fine? Meanwhile the open bag of sliced pepperoni

The short answer: Yes, and faster than most whole produce you buy. A whole ripe avocado lasts only 1 to 2 days on the counter before becoming overripe. A ripe whole avocado in the refrigerator lasts

You find a half-used jar of cocktail sauce in the back of the fridge and wonder how long it has been sitting there. Or maybe you unearthed an unopened bottle that is past its best-by date and you are not sure whether

The short answer: Yes, eventually, but it takes a while. Unopened ketchup is shelf-stable at room temperature for about a year past purchase, per Heinz's own guidance. Once opened, USDA data shows it stays safe even

The short answer: Yes, raw bacon and most cooked bacon must be refrigerated at all times. There is one exception: shelf-stable precooked bacon, which has been processed to a specific moisture level that

The short answer: Not the way a wet condiment does. Old Bay is a dry, shelf-stable spice blend, so its printed date is primarily about quality rather than a safety cutoff. McCormick's own guidance gives it a

There is a carton of eggs in the fridge and the sell-by date was two weeks ago. Or you found eggs that have been sitting on the counter and are not sure whether they are still safe. Do eggs go bad? The short answer