How long will food last in the freezer?

on Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Ever food has a different length of time it can be frozen. Some things do great in the freezer and some things just weren't meant to be frozen. Here is a list of foods that were meant to be frozen and how long you can keep them frozen. Make sure you date all of the packages!




Bread


Freeze bread for up to 5 months


Cheese


Hard cheeses such as cheddar and colby and soft cheese like mozzarella can be frozen for up to 3 months. For bags of individually wrapped cheese sticks I throw the whole bag into the freezer. For sliced cheese packs I put the entire pack into a freezer bag and then into the freezer. Cheese cubes in bags are a little more work. I take them out of the original bag, lay them in layers on top of plastic wrap, wrap them tightly, then put them back into the original bag if it zips up.


Fruits and Vegetables


Fruits


Most frozen fruits maintain high quality for 8 to 12 months. Unsweetened fruits lose quality faster than those packed in sugar or sugar syrups.


Vegetables


Most vegetables will maintain high quality for 12 to 18 months at 0° F or lower. However, it is a good idea to plan to use your home frozen vegetables before the next year crop is ready for freezing


  • Bacon: 1 to 2 months
  • Breads: 2 to 3 months
  • Casseroles: 2 to 3 months
  • Cooked beef and pork: 2 to 3 months
  • Cooked poultry: 4 months
  • Cookie dough: 3 months
  • Frozen dinners: 3 to 4 months
  • Hot dogs: 1 to 2 months
  • Lunch meats: 1 to 2 months
  • Sausage: 1 to 2 months
  • Soups and stews: 2 to 3 months
  • Uncooked chicken (parts): 9 months
  • Uncooked chicken (whole): 1 year
  • Uncooked steaks, chops, or roasts: 4 to 12 months
  • Uncooked ground meat: 3 to 4 months


Product
Practical Storage Life
(in months)
Vegetables
Broccoli
15
Green Beans
18
Brussels sprouts
15
Carrots
18
Cauliflower
15
Corn on the cob
12
Peas
18
Potato Chips
24
Spinach
18
Fish and Shellfish
Oily fish (herring, salmon, mackerel, etc)
4
White fish, cod, haddock, etc.
8
Flat fish, sole, plaice, etc.
10
Prawns, lobster, crab
6
Clams, oysters
4
Other Foods
Ice Cream
6

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