Quiz: Do You Know How Long Foods Keep?

Cleaning out the refrigerator or pantry is often like finding buried treasure of questionable value: You might discover a cache of forgotten condiments that will save you money on your next shopping trip — or just some ancient pesto that could give you a case of food poisoning. Some items require careful consideration. Should you keep that barely used bottle of salad dressing you found hiding behind the ketchup or pitch it? What about that home-bottled jar of garlic in the pantry? Can it possibly still be good if you can't remember when you last used it? Test your knowledge of the shelf life of some common foods and see if you know when to toss them.

1. How long should you keep frozen TV dinners or casseroles?

a. Three to four months
b. Up to six months
c. No more than a year
d. Indefinitely, as long as they are kept well-frozen

2. Eggs can be kept in their carton in the refrigerator for:

a. Two weeks
b. Three weeks
c. Two to three months
d. Up to 6 months

3. If you find a block of cheddar cheese in your refrigerator that has a spot of mold on it about a half-inch wide, it's still safe to eat.

True
False

4. As long as you keep them in an airtight container, tea bags should be good for:

a. Six months
b. One year
c. 18 months
d. Two years

5. Which of the following bottled items should not be left unrefrigerated?

a. Vinegar
b. Oil with chopped garlic
c. Milk powder
d. All of the above

6. Raw hamburger has a shelf life, even if it's stored in the freezer. How long can it be frozen before it should be discarded?

a. Three to four months
b. Up to 6 months
c. Up to a year
d. Indefinitely

Last updated Aug 31, 2009

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