Time for a clean out

     Writing for Epicurious Sheela Prakash penned an article entitled "11 things That Have been in Your Fridge too Long."  She begins by stating:

     Refrigerators are great, but they are not a place to store things for eternity.  For better or for worse, I am type A+ when it comes to cleaning out refrigerators.  I am constantly rummaging for items that have overstayed their welcome in both my fridge...and fridges that belong to others...you should keep an eye on these more perishable things:

1. Mayonnaise
Unlike other condiments, mayo doesn't last for months and months.  Keep an eye on the "use by" date.  Once open, even if that date is months away, use it within 2 months.

2. Beer
If you have a few bottles kicking around in the back of the fridge, you may want to drink up.  Most mass-produced beers have about a 3 month shelf life -- your mileage may vary with microbrews.

3. Yogurt
If you're not going to eat your way through a quart of yogurt every week, buy a smaller size.  Or use up that open container by adding it to pretty much anything.

4. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce definitely doesn't keep as long as you may think.  It's good for only about 3 months in the fridge after it has been opened.

5. Deli Meat
This should be obvious, but lunch meat doesn't last very long.  Once open, us it within a week.

6. Wine
Wait, you have leftover wine?  Well if you do, try to drink it up within a couple of days -- its quality will diminish with each passing day.  Or just use that opened bottle to make vinegar.

7. Tomato Sauce
Don't wait for the mold to form -- an open jar of tomato sauce should be used within 5 days after opening.

8. Salsa
An open jar of salsa keeps for only about a month.  So you might want to break open the tortilla chips and get snacking.

9. Bacon
Once open, bacon keeps for 7 days in the fridge.  But using it up shouldn't really be a problem.

10. Cheese
Soft cheeses like Brie and feta will only last for about 1 week once opened, while hard cheeses like cheddar and Parmesan can last for up to 2 months.  Store them properly to get the most life out of them.

11. Eggs
Regardless of the "sell by" date stamped on the carton, eggs are good for about 3-5 weeks beyond that.  Store them in the back of the fridge, which is typically the coldest part of your fridge, to keep them fresher longer.