LifeCare Diagnostic
July 22, 2021
Do you know the difference between “best before” and “use by” when purchasing food products? “Best before” indicates food quality, while “use by” denotes food safety.
Food still can be eaten after “best before” dates but its quality (taste and flavour) might not be the best. For example, canned food, frozen food. Best before dates is applicable when the food product is stored properly according to the storage instruction.
Food products can be eaten up to the “use by” dates (end of the date) but not beyond, although it may look fine or smell good. For example: milk and sushi.
Storage according to the instructions is important. Food poisoning might happen if the food is not stored appropriately because bacteria such as Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes can grow to cause food borne illness.
Instructions such as “Refrigerate after opening”, “Consume within three days once opened”, “Store in a cool and dry place” – we should pay extra attention. Consumers should note that the durability of a food may change once it’s opened.
Below is food temperature storage recommendations:
Eggs, Fresh, In shell
3-5 weeks
don’t freeze (as liquid expand, it will crack the shell, and contamination happens)
Raw yolks, whites
2-4 days
1 year
Hard cooked
1 week
don’t freeze
Ham, fully cooked, whole
7 days
1-2months
Ham, fully cooked, slices
3-4 days
1-2months
Hot dogs, opened package
1 week
1-2months
Hot dogs, unopened package
2 weeks
1-2months
Vegetable or meat-added & mixtures of them
3-4 days
2-3months
Sausage
1-2 days
1-2months
Fresh meat
3-5 days
4-12 months
Meat leftovers
Cooked meat & meat dishes
3-4 days
2-3 months
Gravy & meat broth
1-2 days
2-3 months
Fresh poultry
1-2 days
1 year (for whole)
9 months (for parts)
Fried chicken
3-4 days
4 months
Cooked poultry dishes
3-4 days
4-6 months
Pieces, plain
3-4 days
4 months
Pieces covered with broth, gravy
3-4 days
6 months
Chicken nuggets, patties
3-4 days
1-3 months
Cooked poultry dishes
3-4 days
4-6 months
Pieces, plain
3-4 days
4 months
Pieces covered with broth, gravy
3-4 days
6 months
Chicken nuggets, patties
3-4 days
1-3 months
Lean fish
1-2 days
6-8 months
Fatty fish
1-2 days
2-3 months
Cooked fish
3-4 days
4-6 months
Smoked fish
14 days
2 months
Fresh shrimp, scallops, squid
1-2 days
3-6 months
Eggs, Fresh, In shell
3-5 weeks
don’t freeze (as liquid expand, it will crack the shell, and contamination happens)
Raw yolks, whites
2-4 days
1 year
Hard cooked
1 week
don’t freeze
Ham, fully cooked, whole
7 days
1-2months
Ham, fully cooked, slices
3-4 days
1-2months
Hot dogs, opened package
1 week
1-2months
Hot dogs, unopened package
2 weeks
1-2months
Vegetable or meat-added & mixtures of them
3-4 days
2-3months
Sausage
1-2 days
1-2months
Fresh meat
3-5 days
4-12 months
Meat leftovers
Cooked meat & meat dishes
3-4 days
2-3 months
Gravy & meat broth
1-2 days
2-3 months
Fresh poultry
1-2 days
1 year (for whole)
9 months (for parts)
Fried chicken
3-4 days
4 months
Cooked poultry dishes
3-4 days
4-6 months
Pieces, plain
3-4 days
4 months
Pieces covered with broth, gravy
3-4 days
6 months
Chicken nuggets, patties
3-4 days
1-3 months
Cooked poultry dishes
3-4 days
4-6 months
Pieces, plain
3-4 days
4 months
Pieces covered with broth, gravy
3-4 days
6 months
Chicken nuggets, patties
3-4 days
1-3 months
Lean fish
1-2 days
6-8 months
Fatty fish
1-2 days
2-3 months
Cooked fish
3-4 days
4-6 months
Smoked fish
14 days
2 months
Fresh shrimp, scallops, squid
1-2 days
3-6 months
Life Care Diagnostic Medical Centre Sdn. Bhd. (673106-V)
Bangsar South
1st Floor, Wisma Lifecare,
No. 5, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Cheras South
19A-2 & 19B-2, Block E, Kompleks Komersil Akasa,
Jalan Akasa, Akasa Cheras Selatan,
43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor
Operating Hour:
Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday: 8.00am – 1.00pm
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
