- 1). Check the temperature of your refrigerator. The temperature should be between 34 and 40 degrees F, because most harmful bacteria grow very slowly, if at all, if meat is stored at this temperature.
- 2). Place a glass thermometer, the kind used when making candy, in a glass of water, and set it in the middle of the refrigerator. Wait five to eight hours, and then check the thermometer's reading. Temperatures higher than 40 degrees F are considered to be in the "danger zone." Make any necessary adjustments to the refrigerator setting to lower the temperature to a safe range. Verify the new temperature by repeating this step as necessary.
- 3). Store bacon in the refrigerator for up to seven days in its original packaging. Hamburger and other ground meats can be safely stored for up to two days in their original packaging. Soups and stews with meat added can be stored up to four days in airtight containers.
- 4). Store salads topped with chicken, ham or tuna for up to five days in airtight containers. Store unopened packaged luncheon meat for up to two weeks. Opened packaged deli meat or deli sliced meat can be stored for up to five days if it is securely sealed in an airtight container or an airtight plastic bag. Pizza, chicken nuggets and cooked meat leftovers can be stored up to four days in airtight containers.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -