Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education

Cooking Chart - An Industry Standard Chart

Mrs. Cookwell with a beef patty

Recommended internal cooking temperature - PDF version (PDF 1 MB)

GROUND MEAT
Beef, pork, veal 71ºC (160ºF)
Chicken, turkey 80ºC (176ºF)
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FRESH BEEF
Rare 63ºC (145ºF)
Medium 71ºC (160ºF)
Well done 77ºC (170ºF)
Rolled beef roasts or steaks 71ºC (160ºF)
Beef minute steak 71ºC (160ºF)
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FRESH PORK
Pork chops 71ºC (160ºF)
Roasts 71ºC (160ºF)
Fresh cured ham 71ºC (160ºF)
Cooked ham (to reheat) 60ºC (140ºF)
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POULTRY
Chicken, turkey - whole, stuffed 82ºC (180ºF)
Chicken - whole, unstuffed 82ºC (180ºF)
Turkey - whole, unstuffed 77ºC (170ºF)
Chicken, turkey - pieces 77ºC (170ºF)
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STUFFING
Cooked alone 74ºC (165ºF)
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EGGS & EGG DISHES
Egg casseroles, sauces, custards 71ºC (160ºF)
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LEFTOVERS
Reheated 74ºC (165ºF)
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Storage Chart

Mrs. Cookwell storing pizza in her fridge

PDF version (PDF 426 KB)

  Refrigerator
4ºC (40ºF)
Freezer
-18ºC (0ºF)
FRESH MEAT
Beef - Steaks, Roasts 2-4 days 10-12 months
Pork-Chops, Roasts 2-4 days 8-12 months
Lamb-Chops, Roasts 2-4 days 8-12 months
Veal Roasts 3-4 days 8-12 months
Ground Meat 1-2 days 2-3 months
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FRESH POULTRY
Chicken, Turkey - whole 2-3 days 1 year
Chicken, Turkey - pieces 2-3 days 6 months
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FRESH FISH
Lean fish (e.g., cod, flounder) 3-4 days 6 months
Fatty fish (e.g., salmon) 3-4 days 2 months
Shellfish (e.g., clams, crab, lobster) 12-24 hours 2-4 months
Scallops, Shrimp, Cooked Shellfish 1-2 days 2-4 months
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HAM
Canned ham 6-9 months Don't Freeze
Ham, fully cooked (half & slices) 3-4 days 2-3 months
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BACON & SAUSAGE
Bacon 1 week 1 month
Sausage, raw (pork, beef, turkey) 1-2 days 1-2 months
Pre-cooked, smoked links or patties 1 week 1-2 months
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LEFTOVERS
Cooked meat, stews, egg or vegetable dishes 3-4 days 2-3 months
Gravy & meat broth 1-2 days 2-3 months
Cooked poultry and fish 3-4 days 4-6 months
Soups 2-3 days 4 months
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HOT DOGS & LUNCH MEATS
Hotdogs 2 weeks 1-2 months
Hotdogs - Opened 1 week  
Lunch meats 2 weeks 1-2 months
Lunch meats - Opened 3-5 days 1-2 months
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DELI FOODS
Deli meats 3-4 days 2-3 months
Store-prepared or homemade salads 3-5 days Don't freeze
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TV DINNERS / FROZEN CASSEROLES
Keep frozen until ready to serve   3-4 months
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EGGS
Fresh - in shell 3-4 weeks Don't Freeze
Fresh -out of shell 2-4 days 4 months
Hardcooked 1 week Doesn't freeze well
Egg substitutes 10 days 1 year
Opened 3 days Don't freeze
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DAIRY PRODUCTS
Milk Check Best Before date 6 weeks
Milk - opened 3 days  
Cottage cheese Check Best Before date Doesn't freeze well
Cottage cheese - opened 3 days  
Yogurt Check Best Before date 1-2 months
Yogurt - opened 3 days  
Cheese - Soft 1 week Doesn't freeze well
Cheese - Semi-soft 2-3 weeks 8 weeks
Cheese - Firm 5 weeks 3 months
Cheese - Hard 10 months Up to a year
Cheese - Processed Several months 3 months
Cheese - Opened
3-4 weeks Don't freeze
Butter - Salted 8 weeks 1 year
Butter - Unsalted 8 weeks 3 months
Butter - Opened 3 weeks Don't freeze
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COMMERCIAL MAYONNAISE
(refrigerate after opening) 2 months Don't freeze
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VEGETABLES
Beans, green or waxed 5 days 8 months
Carrots 2 weeks 10-12 months
Celery 2 weeks 10-12 months
Lettuce, leaf 3-7 days Don't freeze
Lettuce, iceberg 1-2 weeks Don't freeze
Spinach 2-4 days 10-12 months
Squash, summer 1 week 10-12 months
Squash, winter 2 weeks 10-12 months
Tomatoes Not recommended 2 months
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