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Dairy & Eggs Shelf Life Guide
Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and eggs — 48 products covered
Dairy and egg products are among the most perishable items in your kitchen. Proper temperature control is critical — most dairy should be stored at or below 40°F (4°C). Understanding how long milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and eggs last can prevent foodborne illness and reduce waste. This guide covers shelf life data sourced from the USDA FoodKeeper app and FDA guidelines for every dairy and egg product.
Dairy & Eggs Shelf Life at a Glance
| Product | Unopened | Opened | Refrigerated | Frozen | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Cheese Slices | — | — | 3-4 weeks | 1-2 months | SAFE |
| Blue Cheese | — | — | 3-4 weeks | 6 months | SAFE |
| Brie Cheese | — | — | 1 week | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Butter | 1-2 weeks | — | 1-2 months | 6-9 months | SAFE |
| Buttermilk | — | — | 7-10 days | Up to 3 months (texture may change) | CAUTION |
| Cheddar Cheese | — | — | 3-4 weeks | 6 months | SAFE |
| Cheese Whiz | 6 months | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | — | SAFE |
| Clotted Cream | 2 weeks | 3-5 days | 3-5 days (after opening) | Not recommended | CAUTION |
| Condensed Milk | 1-2 years | — | 5-7 days | Not recommended | CAUTION |
| Cottage Cheese | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-3 months | CAUTION |
| Cream Cheese | — | — | 1-2 weeks | 2 months | CAUTION |
| Cream Cheese Block | 1 month past printed date | 1 to 2 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks after opening | 2 months | CAUTION |
| Creme Fraiche | 3-4 weeks | 7-10 days | 7-10 days | Not recommended | CAUTION |
| Dulce de Leche | 6-12 months | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3 months | SAFE |
| Egg Whites Liquid | — | — | 2-4 days | Up to 12 months | CAUTION |
| Eggnog | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Eggs | — | — | 1 week | Up to 1 year (whites or yolks only) | CAUTION |
| Evaporated Milk | 12-18 months | — | 5-7 days | Not recommended | CAUTION |
| Feta Cheese | — | — | 5-7 days | 2-3 months | CAUTION |
| Frozen Yogurt | — | — | — | 1-2 months unopened, 1-2 weeks opened | CAUTION |
| Ghee | 9-12 months | 3-6 months | 6 months | 12 months or longer | SAFE |
| Gouda Cheese | — | — | 3-4 weeks | 6 months | SAFE |
| Greek Yogurt | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Half And Half | — | — | 7-10 days | Not recommended | CAUTION |
| Hard Boiled Eggs | — | — | 1 week | — | CAUTION |
| Heavy Cream | — | — | 7-10 days | Up to 3 months | CAUTION |
| Ice Cream | — | — | — | 2-4 months unopened, 1-2 months opened | CAUTION |
| Kefir | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Labneh | 3 weeks | 7-10 days | 7-10 days | 2 months | CAUTION |
| Margarine | 1-2 months | — | 1-3 months | Up to 6 months | SAFE |
| Mascarpone Cheese | 3 weeks | 5 to 7 days | 5 to 7 days | 1 month | CAUTION |
| Mozzarella Cheese | — | — | 3-7 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Paneer | 1-2 weeks | 3-5 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 months | CAUTION |
| Parmesan Cheese | — | — | 1-2 months | 6 months | SAFE |
| Powdered Milk | 1-2 years | 3-6 months | — | 6-12 months | SAFE |
| Provolone Cheese | — | — | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 months | SAFE |
| Queso Fresco | 2 weeks | 5 to 7 days | 5 to 7 days | 2 months | CAUTION |
| Ricotta Cheese | — | — | 5-7 days | 2 months | CAUTION |
| Sherbet | — | — | 1-2 days (not recommended) | 2-3 months | HIGH |
| Skim Milk | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-3 months | CAUTION |
| Sour Cream | — | — | 7-14 days | 1-2 months (quality may decline) | CAUTION |
| String Cheese | — | — | 1-2 weeks | 2 months | CAUTION |
| Swiss Cheese | — | — | 3-4 weeks | 1-2 months | SAFE |
| Velveeta | 6 months | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 2 months | SAFE |
| Whipped Cream (Canned) | — | — | 1-2 weeks | — | CAUTION |
| Whipping Cream | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
| Whole Milk | — | — | 3-7 days | 1-3 months | CAUTION |
| Yogurt | — | — | 5-7 days | 1-2 months | CAUTION |
How to Store Dairy & Eggs Properly
- Store dairy products in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door where temperatures fluctuate.
- Keep eggs in their original carton to protect them from absorbing odors and to track the sell-by date.
- Hard cheeses last significantly longer than soft cheeses — Parmesan can last 6+ months while ricotta lasts only 5-7 days.
- Freeze milk, butter, and shredded cheese to extend shelf life by several months.
- Always smell dairy products before consuming — sour odors are the most reliable indicator of spoilage.
Signs of Spoilage in Dairy & Eggs
Dairy spoilage is typically caused by bacterial growth. Look for sour or off odors, curdling, mold growth (especially on cheese), slimy textures, or unusual discoloration. Eggs can be tested by placing them in water — fresh eggs sink while bad eggs float. Yogurt with excessive liquid separation or a pink/orange tint should be discarded.
All Dairy & Eggs Products (48)
American Cheese Slices
SAFE Refrigerated 3-4 weeks
View full safety guide
Blue Cheese
SAFE Refrigerated 3-4 weeks
View full safety guide
Brie Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 1 week
View full safety guide
Butter
SAFE Unopened 1-2 weeks
Refrigerated 1-2 months
View full safety guide
Buttermilk
CAUTION Refrigerated 7-10 days
View full safety guide
Cheddar Cheese
SAFE Refrigerated 3-4 weeks
View full safety guide
Cheese Whiz
SAFE Unopened 6 months
Refrigerated 3 weeks
Opened 3 weeks
View full safety guide
Clotted Cream
CAUTION Unopened 2 weeks
Refrigerated 3-5 days (after opening)
Opened 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Condensed Milk
CAUTION Unopened 1-2 years
Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Cottage Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Cream Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 1-2 weeks
View full safety guide
Cream Cheese Block
CAUTION Unopened 1 month past printed date
Refrigerated 1 to 2 weeks after opening
Opened 1 to 2 weeks
View full safety guide
Creme Fraiche
CAUTION Unopened 3-4 weeks
Refrigerated 7-10 days
Opened 7-10 days
View full safety guide
Dulce de Leche
SAFE Unopened 6-12 months
Refrigerated 2-3 weeks
Opened 2-3 weeks
View full safety guide
Egg Whites Liquid
CAUTION Refrigerated 2-4 days
View full safety guide
Eggnog
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Eggs
CAUTION Refrigerated 1 week
View full safety guide
Evaporated Milk
CAUTION Unopened 12-18 months
Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Feta Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Frozen Yogurt
CAUTION View full safety guide
Ghee
SAFE Unopened 9-12 months
Refrigerated 6 months
Opened 3-6 months
View full safety guide
Gouda Cheese
SAFE Refrigerated 3-4 weeks
View full safety guide
Greek Yogurt
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Half And Half
CAUTION Refrigerated 7-10 days
View full safety guide
Hard Boiled Eggs
CAUTION Refrigerated 1 week
View full safety guide
Heavy Cream
CAUTION Refrigerated 7-10 days
View full safety guide
Ice Cream
CAUTION View full safety guide
Kefir
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Labneh
CAUTION Unopened 3 weeks
Refrigerated 7-10 days
Opened 7-10 days
View full safety guide
Margarine
SAFE Unopened 1-2 months
Refrigerated 1-3 months
View full safety guide
Mascarpone Cheese
CAUTION Unopened 3 weeks
Refrigerated 5 to 7 days
Opened 5 to 7 days
View full safety guide
Mozzarella Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-7 days
View full safety guide
Paneer
CAUTION Unopened 1-2 weeks
Refrigerated 3-5 days
Opened 3-5 days
View full safety guide
Parmesan Cheese
SAFE Refrigerated 1-2 months
View full safety guide
Powdered Milk
SAFE Unopened 1-2 years
Opened 3-6 months
View full safety guide
Provolone Cheese
SAFE Refrigerated 3-4 weeks
View full safety guide
Queso Fresco
CAUTION Unopened 2 weeks
Refrigerated 5 to 7 days
Opened 5 to 7 days
View full safety guide
Ricotta Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Sherbet
HIGH Refrigerated 1-2 days (not recommended)
View full safety guide
Skim Milk
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Sour Cream
CAUTION Refrigerated 7-14 days
View full safety guide
String Cheese
CAUTION Refrigerated 1-2 weeks
View full safety guide
Swiss Cheese
SAFE Refrigerated 3-4 weeks
View full safety guide
Velveeta
SAFE Unopened 6 months
Refrigerated 3 weeks
Opened 3 weeks
View full safety guide
Whipped Cream (Canned)
CAUTION Refrigerated 1-2 weeks
View full safety guide
Whipping Cream
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Whole Milk
CAUTION Refrigerated 3-7 days
View full safety guide
Yogurt
CAUTION Refrigerated 5-7 days
View full safety guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does dairy last in the fridge?
It depends on the product: milk lasts 5-7 days past the printed date, hard cheese lasts 3-4 weeks after opening, yogurt lasts 1-2 weeks, and butter lasts 1-3 months. Always check for signs of spoilage before consuming.
Can you freeze dairy products?
Yes, most dairy can be frozen. Milk, butter, and shredded cheese freeze well for 3-6 months. However, soft cheeses, cream cheese, and yogurt may change texture after freezing. Eggs can be frozen if removed from the shell.
Is it safe to eat dairy past the expiration date?
Sell-by and best-by dates indicate quality, not safety. Many dairy products remain safe for several days past these dates if properly refrigerated. However, always check for spoilage signs like off odors, curdling, or mold before consuming.