About Food Shelf Life Guide
Refrigerator temperatures should be ≤ 4°C (40°F). Freezer: ≤ -18°C (0°F). The danger zone for bacterial growth is 4–60°C. "Best before" dates indicate quality, not safety — most foods are safe past this date. "Use by" dates are safety limits. When in doubt, use your senses: smell, color, and texture. The USDA recommends discarding food left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.