Do You Know How Long Food Will Keep in the Freezer? (2024)

FAQs

Do You Know How Long Food Will Keep in the Freezer? ›

Generally speaking, most food should last 3-6 months without succumbing to freezer burn. But wrapping foods properly with freezer wrap (not plastic wrap, which lets a lot of air in), or using air-tight, freezer-safe containers can increase their “shelf” life.

Use these guidelines when freezing food

The quality and taste of your favorite foods can be preserved in the freezer anywhere from one to 12 months at the right freezer temperature. This time frame varies for fresh or cooked meats, fruits, vegetables, soups and leftovers.

Sadly, frozen foods and meals should be eaten within three to four months, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. After that their quality degrades significantly. If anything has been in your freezer for more than six months, it may be time to say goodbye.

(1) Ready-made meals, ice cream: 2 to 6 months. (2) Pork, fish: 2 to 6 months. (3) Fruit, vegetables: 4 to 8 months. (4) Sausages, bread: 4 to 8 months.

If kept frozen continuously, it will be safe indefinitely. Chicken may be frozen in its original packaging or repackaged. If freezing longer than two months, over wrap the porous store plastic packages with airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper, or place the package inside a freezer bag.

The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only—frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely. Looking for a specific item? Check out FoodKeeper to find storage tips for over 650 food and beverages.

Food can remain frozen indefinitely and technically be safe to eat, as bacteria will not grow. However, over time all frozen food will deteriorate in quality and become unappetising to eat when defrosted. The time it takes for this deterioration to happen varies between foods.

What food lasts the longest in the freezer? Whole chickens or turkey, beef steaks and roasts and eggs out of the shell may last up to one year in the freezer if stored properly.

Fully cooked meats like ham, sausage and bacon can be frozen for up to two months, while uncooked beef, poultry and pork can last for up to a year. You can expect raw hamburgers and ground beef to keep their freshness for about three to four months.

How do you know if freezer food is still good? ›

First check the odor. Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded. Some may not look picture perfect or be of high enough quality to serve alone but may be edible; use them to make soups or stews.

According to the USDA, if food is frozen properly (at 0°F or below) it should be safe to eat indefinitely. 1 But that doesn't mean that that pizza from a year ago will taste good.

“Technically, food that's been kept frozen is safe to eat indefinitely,” she says. “However, the longer it stays frozen, the more quality tends to decrease, including changes in taste and texture so there are exceptions to the 'indefinite' rule.”

Well, if we're talking technically, the answer is: forever. Freezing food stops bacterial growth in its tracks, so in theory, frozen food should keep indefinitely.

A whole chicken or turkey can be kept in the freezer for up to one year. Chicken or turkey in pieces can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months. Ground chicken or turkey is best consumed within three to four months if frozen from the date of purchase.

According to the FSIS, freezer burn doesn't make food unsafe, but rather it makes it dry in spots which is a quality issue not food safety issue. These dry areas appear as grayish-brown spots and are caused by air coming into contact with the surface of the food.

Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

It typically takes between 20 to 40 hours to complete the process. Food type and quantity will affect the freeze-dry cycle. Things like meat, peas and corn dry quickly, while squash and watermelon can take longer. The thickness of the food slices will affect the cycle time too.

A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed). Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F (4°C) or below, however, its quality may suffer. Never taste food to determine its safety.

Once a perishable product is frozen, it doesn't matter if the date expires because foods kept frozen continuously at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below are safe.