Guides to storing, freezing and organizing food

How long food lasts in the fridge and the freezer, how to keep track of what you have, and how to label your containers. Every figure comes with its official source and, when two agencies disagree, we say so.

• How long leftovers last in the fridge

  Do I eat this container or throw it out?

  Leftovers: 48 hours according to the UK's FSA; cooked meat and stews, 3 to 4 days according to the US FDA.

• How long food lasts in the freezer, and what not to freeze

  How long can I keep this frozen?

  At 0 °F (-18 °C) food stays safe indefinitely; the months in the table are for quality, not safety (FDA).

• Freezer inventory: how to track what's in your freezer

  How do I know what's in the freezer without digging?

  In Spain, 77.5% of the volume of food and drink thrown away at home is unused product, not cooked dishes (MAPA, 2025).

• NFC labels for food containers: complete guide

  Which tag should I buy, and does it survive the freezer?

  The chip works from -25 °C to 70 °C (-13 °F to 158 °F); the adhesive is what you need to choose well (NXP).