This chart lists everything from raw meat
to ready-to-eat desserts.
NOTE: These times assume that the freezer
temperature is maintained at 0°F (-18°C) or colder. The storage times are for
quality only. Frozen foods remain safe almost indefinitely.
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HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE CHEESE?
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|
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Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
All cheeses, except
those listed below
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6 months
|
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Cottage cheese, cream
cheese, feta, goat, fresh mozzarella, Neufchâtel, Parmesan, processed cheese
(opened)
|
Not recommended
|
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HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE DAIRY PRODUCTS?
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Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
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Butter
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6 to 9 months
|
|
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Cream, half-and-half
|
4 months
|
|
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Ice cream
|
1 to 2 months
|
|
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Margarine (not diet)
|
12 months
|
|
|
Milk
|
3 months
|
|
|
Yogurt
|
1 to 2 months
|
|
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HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE FISH
AND SEAFOOD?
|
|
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Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
Clams, mussels,
oysters, scallops, shrimp
|
3 to 6 months
|
|
Fatty fish (bluefish,
mackerel, perch, salmon)
|
2 to 3 months
|
|
Lean fish (flounder,
haddock, sole)
|
6 months
|
|
HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE
FRESH FRUIT?
|
|
|
Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
All fruit (except
those listed below)
|
10 to 12 months
|
|
Avocados, bananas
|
3 months
|
|
Citrus fruit
|
4 to 6 months
|
|
Fruit Juices
|
8 to 12 months
|
|
HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE
FRESH VEGETABLES?
|
|
|
Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
Artichokes, eggplant
|
6 to 8 months
|
|
8 to 10 months
|
|
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Not recommended
|
|
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Beans, beets,
bok choy, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, corn,
greens, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, okra, onions, parsnips, peas, peppers,
soybeans, spinach, summer squash
|
10 to 12 months
|
|
Tomatoes (overripe
or sliced)
|
2 months
|
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HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE MEAT?
|
|
|
Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
Cooked
|
2 to 3
|
|
Ham, hot dogs, and
lunch meats
|
1 to 2 months
|
|
Sausage, bacon
|
1 to 2 months
|
|
Uncooked, ground
|
3 to 4 months
|
|
Uncooked roasts,
steaks, or chops
|
4 to 12 months
|
|
Wild game, uncooked
|
8 to 12 months
|
|
HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE POULTRY?
|
|
|
Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
Cooked
|
4 months
|
|
Giblets, uncooked
|
3 to 4 months
|
|
Uncooked
|
12 months
|
|
Uncooked parts
|
9 months
|
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HOW LONG CAN YOU FREEZE
OTHER FOODS?
|
|
|
Product
|
Store in Freezer
|
|
Cakes
|
4 to 6 months
|
|
Casseroles
|
2 to 3 months
|
|
Cookie dough
|
2 months
|
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Cookies
|
3 months
|
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Fruit pies, baked
|
2 to 4 months
|
|
Fruit pies, unbaked
|
8 months
|
|
Pastry, unbaked
|
2 months
|
|
Pumpkin or chiffon
pies
|
1 months
|
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Quick breads
|
2 months
|
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Raw egg yolks, whites
|
12 months
|
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Soups and stews
|
2 to 3 months
|
|
Yeast breads
|
6 months
|
|
Yeast dough
|
2 weeks
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