FIGHT BACK : FRIDGE SHOULDN'T BE FOOD MUSEUM.

Byline: David Horowitz 

How long do you keep food in the refrigerator? If you can't remember when you put it there, chances are, you should throw it out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in favor of wasting food - but there's a potential health threat if you consume food that's been sitting too long in the fridge. It can cause stomach upset, diarrhea or even vomiting. It's not worth risking your health.

I talked to some experts about the kinds of foods people keep in their refrigerators and how long you can safely expect them to last. Everyone keeps a jar of mayonnaise in the fridge, but if you haven't used it up by the end of three months, throw it out. Other condiments, like ketchup and mustard, will last up to a year.

Refrigerator safety isn't about keeping food until its use-by date. It's just the suggested time one should eat the food by for the best ``taste'' and not because it necessarily spoils at that time.

Dairy products are the most perishable foods in the refrigerator. Under normal conditions, a carton of milk will last seven days or longer with no danger. Hard cheese may develop mold, but by cutting off the bad parts, the rest is usable. Soft cheese is a different story. If you find any mold, throw the whole thing out. For yogurt, check the date on the container. It's probably safe for a week past its use-by date.

Eggs will usually last three to four weeks, but be careful. Eggs can carry dangerous bacteria, like salmonella. If the shell is cracked, bacteria can enter the egg, and it's best to throw it out.

If you buy unopened, prepackaged deli meats, I was told they will last up to two weeks - or one week after it's been opened. ``Fresh'' cut meat from a deli counter will also be OK for about a week. But watch out for more costly fresh meats, like beef and chicken. Unless you freeze them, those should be eaten in one or two days.

Fresh vegetables will keep for about a week, but use your sense to determine freshness. Wilted lettuce doesn't taste good, broccoli without the crunch won't smell right and fruit sends out an early warning odor when its going bad.

That leftover pizza may last longer than you think. My experts say it will keep in the refrigerator for as long as three to five days, depending upon what's on it.

One warning is about seafood: That's one food you don't want to keep around for long. Throw seafood out right away if you haven't eaten it.

Don't be so quick to toss out those frozen dinners, since they help stretch your food dollar. They will last up to four months. Fresh frozen meat will keep from six months to a year. If you begin to thaw out a costly cut of meat and then change your mind, you can refreeze it as long as there are still ice crystals left on the food. It's also safe to eat food with freezer burn - it just may not taste or look as good as fresh.