As the fall semester comes to an end, it’s time for college students to get to packing and head home for winter break. Students are packing their suitcase with the essentials, like laptops, shoes, and clothes. What many students almost forget is what’s being left behind in their college apartments and dorms — all of that stuff in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. Going through your food before you leave for break is essential, especially if you don’t want to come back in the spring to a kitchen full of rotten food (and critters). It’s important to thoroughly clean out your kitchen before you leave for break — throwing out or donating the perishables, and properly storing the long-lasting goods.
What Can Stay
Contrary to popular belief, not everything in your kitchen needs to be tossed. There are some products that will remain safe to eat when you come back, if stored properly. Generally, your freezer is the safest place to store food items for use after break.
We all know how expensive meat is, so it’s vital that we find ways to store it properly to use after break. Depending on whether it’s cooked or raw, meat can be frozen for a variety of different times — most of them remaining edible long after you return from break. According to the USDA, raw chicken can be frozen for up to a year. Other meats, like beef, lamb, pork, and veal, can also last up to a year, depending on the cut. Even cooked meats can remain edible after being stored in the freezer: leftover cooked chicken can last anywhere from a month to six months, depending on its preparation. You can refer to the USDA’s Food Safety Basics guide if you’re unsure of whether or not your meat is safe to eat after freezing over break.
Besides meat, you can store other food items in the freezer — as long as they’re sealed properly. Soups and pasta sauces are safe to freeze, as well as bread, bagels, and tortillas. If you have pre-made frozen meals, those are also safe to keep in your freezer for after break. Frozen fruit and vegetables can also stay, along with any ice cream you may have.
Some unopened items are also fine to stay in your kitchen, depending on how long you’ll be gone and what their expiration dates are. If you have any unopened jars of pickles, olives, or anything of the like, you can keep them in your kitchen for after break. Unopened dairy items, like milk or yogurt, are also fine to keep — just be mindful of their expiration dates and keep them in the fridge. If your break is longer than three weeks, you should consider tossing them. Condiments are usually okay to keep, too, as well as any sealed cheeses.
What Needs To Go
Unfortunately, despite all of the food that you are able to save, there is still a bunch that you shouldn’t leave in your kitchen during break. It’s not a good idea to leave behind any leftovers in your fridge, like old takeout or meal-prepped dishes. Any opened dairy products should also be tossed. This includes milk, yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, and coffee creamer.
Unfortunately, your produce is going to have to go as well. From leafy greens to fruits, these items won’t hold up during break. Any opened dips can’t stay either — this includes hummus, salsa, and guacamole. If anything in your fridge or pantry is close to its expiration date, it’s better to toss it before you leave for break.
Not everything you’re getting rid of needs to be tossed in the trash, though. With the holidays approaching, it’s more important now than ever to make contributions to your local food bank or pantry. In 2025, the CAFB-NORC hunger report found that 36% of households experienced food insecurity within the past year. The best way that you can help battle food insecurity is by donating for families in need. Food pantries and banks accept unopened, unexpired, non-perishable foods. That includes items like grains (boxes of pasta, bags of rice, and cereal), canned items (soup, beans, vegetables, fruit, and sauce), and snacks (pretzels, granola bars, and nuts). Before tossing everything into the trash, see what items are eligible to be donated — it can make a difference in a family’s holiday season. Websites such as foodfinder.us can help you locate food pantries and banks near your college that you can donate to. You can also check if your college has a food pantry that is accepting donations.