How long does meal prep last?
USDA entries, with each preparation kept separate.
A fridge window is not a safety test.
Cooked leftovers are generally 3–4 days refrigerated under USDA guidance. Raw foods, opened packages and particular prepared foods have their own entries below. Freezer windows concern quality at 0°F / −18°C.
| Food | Refrigerator | Freezer quality | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee creamer | 3 weeks (from purchase) | No official duration listed | No official duration listed |
| Coleslaw | 3–5 days (general guidance) | No official duration listed | No official duration listed |
| Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners | 2 weeks (from purchase) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Commercial bread products | 2–3 weeks (after opening) | 3–5 months (from purchase) | 14–18 days (from purchase) |
| Commercial cakes and muffins | 7–10 days (after opening) | 6 months (from purchase) | 3–7 days (from purchase) |
| Cooked fish | 3–4 days (general guidance) | 1–2 months (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cooked pasta | 3–5 days (general guidance) | 1–2 months (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cooked poultry dishes | 3–4 days (general guidance) | 4–6 months (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cooked rice | 4–6 days (general guidance) | 6 months (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cooked shellfish | 3–4 days (general guidance) | 1–3 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Cookie dough | Package use-by date (general guidance) | 2 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Cookies | No official duration listed | 8–12 months (from purchase) | 2–3 months (from purchase) |
| corn | 1–2 days (from purchase) | 8 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Corn on the cob | 1–2 days (from purchase) | 8 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Corn syrup | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 3 years (general guidance) |
| Corned beef | 5–7 days (from purchase) | 1 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Cornish Hens | 1–2 days (from purchase) | 12 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Cornmeal | 1 year (after opening) | No official duration listed | 6–12 months (from purchase); 2 years (after opening) |
| Cornstarch | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 18–24 months (from purchase); 18 months (after opening) |
| cottage | 2 weeks (from purchase); 1 weeks (after opening) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cottage cheese | 2 weeks (from purchase); 1 weeks (after opening) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| couscous | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 2 years (from purchase); 1 years (after opening) |
| Crab legs | 2–4 days (from purchase) | 9–12 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Crab meat | 1–3 days (general guidance) | 2–4 months (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Crackers | 3–4 months (after opening) | 3–4 months (general guidance) | 8 months (from purchase); 1 months (after opening) |
| Cranberries | 2 months (from purchase) | 12 months (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cranberry sauce | 1–2 weeks (after opening) | No official duration listed | 2 years (from purchase) |
| Cream | 1 months (from purchase); 1 weeks (after opening) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cream cheese | 2 weeks (from purchase) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cream liquors | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 6–8 months (general guidance) |
| Cream sauces, milk solids | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 6–12 months (from purchase) |
| Croutons | 5–6 months (general guidance) | 11–12 months (general guidance) | 5–6 months (general guidance) |
| cucumber | 4–6 days (from purchase) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cucumbers | 4–6 days (from purchase) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Cumin | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 3–4 years (from purchase) |
| Dairy filled eclairs | 2–3 days (after opening) | 3 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
| Dates | 12 months (from purchase) | 1–2 years (general guidance) | 2 months (from purchase) |
| Diet powder mixes and drink mixes | No official duration listed | No official duration listed | 18–24 months (from purchase); 1–3 months (after opening) |
| Dips | 2 weeks (from purchase) | Not Recommended (general guidance) | No official duration listed |
| Dough | 3–4 days (general guidance) | 12 months (from purchase) | No official duration listed |
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Choose targets, equipment and exclusions. Get combined groceries, portion counts and a storage plan.
Build a meal prep planCommon questions
Can I use these pages without building a plan?
Yes. Recipe, storage and budget pages are separate references. The planner is optional.
Do the costs include buying full packages?
No. They estimate edible quantities used. Whole packages, local prices, tax and pantry restocking can change the checkout total.
Are the food-storage ranges guarantees?
No. They assume safe handling and correct temperatures. Their expiry, smell or appearance cannot prove an individual food is safe.
How do I find a specific meal or ingredient?
Use the site search for a name or food, or open a meal filter. Source IDs and exact preparations are shown on the relevant page.
Check the sources
- USDA FoodData Central (opens in a new tab)
- USDA FoodKeeper (opens in a new tab)
- USDA August 2026 budget PDF (opens in a new tab)
Retrieved September 30, 2026. Read the calculation method and source dates.