When it comes to food storage, nothing is as reliable as a freezer. And why wouldn’t it be? Just dump the items in there, and you technically have an indefinite storage solution—your food will be safe to eat once thawed. However, while this appliance may seem to do no wrong, you should know that the quality of food stored in the freezer will deteriorate over time, even for The best refrigerators. So if you’re guilty of leaving forgotten goodies in the back of the fridge, odds are, they’ll never taste as good as they once did.
Because of this, you need to keep track of what you’ve frozen, as well as how long each product is likely to last before it starts to go bad. To help you out, we’ve pulled together a grid analyzing how long frozen items will commonly last, taking guidance from FoodSafety.gov (Opens in a new tab), and provided by government agencies, including the US Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Center for Disease Control. We also studied what the manufacturers themselves, as well as experts in this field, suggest.
Thus, we have covered most of the things that you must find in your freezer. Plus, we’ll discuss the best freezer storage tips, so you can keep track of your frozen goods in the future. Here’s how long your food will last in the freezer.
Before we begin, we must stress that the following timelines depend on items being frozen and kept at the correct temperature. For a freezer, this is at or below 0°F or -18°C. When stored at this temperature, your food can technically keep for as long as you want and still be safe to eat, but if you want to keep the flavor, texture, and appearance intact, we recommend sticking to the following dates.
How long does food stay in the freezer?
| category | He writes | Freezing time |
| fresh meat | A piece of meat | From 4 to 12 months |
| Row 2 – cell 0 | chicken or turkey (whole) | 12 Months |
| Row 3 – cell 0 | chicken or turkey (cutlets/chunks) | 9 months |
| Row 4 – cell 0 | cutting | From 4 to 12 months |
| Row 5 – cell 0 | bacon | one month |
| Row 6 – cell 0 | sausage | 1-2 months |
| Row 7 – cell 0 | sausage | 1-2 months |
| Row 8 – cell 0 | Hamburger / minced meat | 3-4 months |
| Row 9 – cell 0 | Pork (fresh, uncooked and uncooked) | 6 months |
| Row 10 – cell 0 | Pork (fresh, not fermented and cooked) | 3-4 months |
| meat-free alternatives | tofu | one month |
| Row 12 – cell 0 | seitan | 6 months |
| Row 13 – cell 0 | Quorn (cooked) | one month |
| fresh fish | Salmon | 2-3 months |
| Row 15 – cell 0 | tuna | 2-3 months |
| Row 16 – cell 0 | cod | 6-8 months |
| Row 17 – cell 0 | haddock | 6-8 months |
| Row 18 – cell 0 | trout | 4-8 months |
| Row 19 – cell 0 | Crab meat | 2-4 months |
| Row 20 – cell 0 | crab | 2-4 months |
| Row 21 – cell 0 | Shrimp | From 6 to 18 months |
| Row 22 – cell 0 | squid | From 6 to 18 months |
| Row 23 – cell 0 | cooked fish | 3 months |
| dairy | leben | 6 weeks |
| Row 25 – cell 0 | yogurt | 2 months |
| Row 26 – cell 0 | generous | 3 months |
| Row 27 – cell 0 | ghee | 4 months |
| Row 28 – cell 0 | Ice cream | 3-6 months |
| bread | loaf or slices | 3 months |
| Row 30 – cell 0 | dough | 6-12 months |
| egg | Egg whites and yolks (raw and mixed or separated) | 12 Months |
| Row 32 – cell 0 | Egg whites and yolks (mixed and cooked) | 3 months |
| Produce | Fruits and vegetables | 8-12 months |
| leftovers | cooked meat | 2-6 months |
| Row 35 – cell 0 | pizza | 1-2 months |
| Row 36 – cell 0 | piece of Chicken | 1-3 months |
| cook | vegetables or meat | 2-3 months |
Freezer storage tips
- keep it full – Your freezer will actually operate more efficiently at full capacity, so don’t be afraid to fill up the space. This will save energy because the frozen items inside help maintain the temperature when you open the door.
- Don’t overload though – Overfilling the freezer may damage the appliance if you block the ventilation holes. It can also make it more difficult to manage the contents, so more quality food is wasted. here 3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Overfill Your Freezer for more details.
- Defrost as necessary – Unfortunately, some freezers will need to be defrosted. This is necessary when excess ice builds up on the walls of the freezer, preventing tow from sliding in and out. It needs to be addressed as it can affect the performance of your freezer as well as consume extra energy. here How to defrost the freezer for guidance.
- Use the quick freeze setting – If your freezer has a quick freeze setting, be sure to take advantage of it. This basically causes the internal temperature to drop for a period of time. It comes in handy if you suddenly add a load of groceries to the mix.
- Always label your food – Be sure to label anything inconspicuous in the freezer, such as leftover stews and homemade baked goods. This way, you know exactly what it is and when it was frozen.
- Rotate the contents – Make sure you don’t forget the items in the back—every time you fill the freezer, move the items in the back to the front so they’ll be used first. Just be sure to avoid any of these 14 foods you should never put in the freezer.
- Remove packaging when space is tight. If your freezer is low on space, feel free to remove the packaging from your frozen food. You can still label them and keep the package out of the freezer for cooking directions.
For more tips, tricks, and how-tos, check out our guides on these 7 Fridge Mistakes You Can Be Making, 11 Foods You Should Never Put in the Fridge, and How to Clean Your Fridge.
