Freezer Storage Times
How long food stays good in the freezer.
| Roasts | 4 to 12 months |
| Steaks | 6 to 12 months |
| Ground beef | 3 to 4 months |
| Stew or soup meat | 2 to 3 months |
| Hot dogs | 1 to 2 months |
| Whole chicken or turkey | 12 months |
| Chicken parts | 9 months |
| Ground poultry | 3 to 4 months |
| Cooked chicken or turkey | 4 months |
| Deli or lunch meat | 1 to 2 months |
| Roasts | 4 to 12 months |
| Chops | 4 to 6 months |
| Ground pork | 3 to 4 months |
| Bacon | 1 month |
| Ham (whole or half) | 1 to 2 months |
| Sausage | 1 to 2 months |
| Lean fish (cod, flounder) | 6 to 8 months |
| Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel) | 2 to 3 months |
| Shellfish (shrimp, scallops) | 3 to 6 months |
| Smoked fish | 2 months |
| Cooked fish | 4 to 6 months |
| Bread | 2 to 3 months |
| Butter | 6 to 9 months |
| Hard cheese | 6 months |
| Milk | 3 months |
| Cream cheese, cottage | Not recommended |
| Vegetables, blanched | 8 to 12 months |
| Berries | 8 to 12 months |
| Stone fruit, sliced | 8 to 12 months |
| Bananas, peeled | 2 to 3 months |
| Herbs in oil | 4 to 6 months |
| Soups & stews | 2 to 3 months |
| Casseroles | 2 to 3 months |
| Cooked beans | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked rice or pasta | 1 to 2 months |
| Stock or broth | 4 to 6 months |
| Pizza, baked | 1 to 2 months |
Frozen at 0°F (-18°C), food stays safe to eat indefinitely. The times above are for best quality, not safety. After that window, food is still edible but flavor and texture start to slip.
Source: USDA FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart. Wrap food tightly in freezer paper or vacuum bags to prevent freezer burn and stretch these numbers.
About
USDA freezer storage guidelines for meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, baked goods, and prepared foods. Quality times, not safety times: frozen food at 0F stays safe forever, but flavor and texture degrade.
How to use
- Pick a category and item.
- See the recommended storage time.
FAQ
Is it actually unsafe after the time?+
No. Food kept at 0F or below stays safe indefinitely. The times listed are quality, not safety. Past them food can be bland or freezer-burned but won't make you sick.
Does packaging matter?+
Hugely. Vacuum-sealed lasts 2-3x longer than wrapped in plastic wrap. The numbers here assume good packaging.