Freezer Storage Times Chart
How Long Frozen Food Stays Good
This chart provides freezer storage times for many common frozen food items, so you know how long your frozen food will taste its best. Plus, there's a free printable cheat sheet showing the freezer storage guidelines too below.
Freezer Storage Guidelines
| Bread & Desserts | TIme |
|---|---|
| Baked bread and cookies | 3 months |
| Cakes, pastries and doughnuts | 3 months |
| Muffins and quick breads | 3 months |
| Pancakes and waffles | 3 months |
| Cookie or bread dough | 1 month |
| Produce | TIme |
| Fruits | 1 year |
| Juices | 1 year |
| Vegetables | 8 months |
| Nuts | 3 months |
| Dairy & Eggs | TIme |
| Ice cream | 2 months |
| Butter | 9 months |
| Cheese | 3 months |
| Eggs (raw, not in shells) | 1 year |
| Milk | 1 month |
| Meats | TIme |
| Ground beef, pork & stew meats | 4 months |
| Other beef (i.e., roasts, steaks) | 1 year |
| Lamb and veal | 9 months |
| Ham | 2 months |
| Pork chops | 4 months |
| Pork roast or loin | 8 months |
| Bacon and sausage | 1 month |
| Poultry | TIme |
| Chicken and turkey (whole) | 1 year |
| Chicken and turkey (cuts) | 6 months |
| Ground turkey and chicken | 4 months |
| Seafood | TIme |
| Fatty fish (i.e., mackerel, trout) | 3 months |
| Lean fish (i.e., cod, flounder) | 6 months |
| Crab | 10 months |
| Lobster | 1 year |
| Shrimp and scallops (unbreaded) | 1 year |
| Miscellaneous | TIme |
| Casseroles (cooked) | 3 months |
| Paste and rice (cooked) | 3 months |
| Soups and stews | 2 months |
These Food Storage Times Are General Estimates Of When Food Will Taste Its Best
Frozen food, after a certain time period, will not taste as good as it used to, but may still be safe to eat (assuming it was properly frozen while fresh, and stayed frozen the entire time).
Therefore, the guidelines above are merely that, guidelines and estimates of time periods when the food will taste its best.
Further, these estimates apply to food frozen normally. If, for instance, it is frozen using a FoodSaver vacuum sealer this will typically increase how long the food will stay good frozen.
If an item is frozen and then thawed it should not be re-frozen thereafter, since this can make it unsafe to eat.
You can learn more about food safety with my article with 5 food storage safety tips, plus visit FoodSafety.gov.
Printable Freezer Storage Times Cheat Sheet
Click to get printable cheat sheet {opens into a PDF}
I've created this printable version of the cheat sheet for easier reference as you are clearing out your freezer as part of the Organizing Fridge & Freezer Challenge.
It will help you both know when to throw certain foods out from your freezer, and also when to plan to eat them while they'll taste their best.
I suggest using it in conjunction with your freezer inventory form to determine the best use by date, and plan your freezer meals.
Other Printable Forms You May Like
Here are some additional printable forms about food storage that you may find helpful, including a similar chart and cheat sheet used for refrigerated items, and another for your pantry.
 Refrigerated Food Storage Guidelines {Cheat Sheet} |
 Pantry Food Storage Chart {Cheat Sheet} |
 Freezer Inventory Form |
This article is sponsored by the Indiana's Family of Farmers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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