Blog · Freezer
How long can you freeze meat, fish, and leftovers?
For best quality, use frozen ground beef within 3 to 4 months and a whole chicken within a year. After that, it's still safe at 0°F. It just won't taste as good. Here are the USDA freezer times for meat, fish, and leftovers, plus what to keep out of the freezer.
Meat and poultry
| ground beef or turkey | 3 to 4 months |
|---|---|
| steaks and roasts | 4 to 12 months |
| whole chicken or turkey | 1 year |
| chicken pieces | 9 months |
| bacon | 1 month |
Past these times, food at 0°F is still safe. It just won't taste as good.
Fish and leftovers
| salmon or tuna | 2 to 3 months |
|---|---|
| cod or halibut | 6 to 8 months |
| soup and stew | 2 to 3 months |
| cooked meat | 2 to 3 months |
| pizza | 1 to 2 months |
Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter. Even a pound of ground beef takes a full day.
These hate the freezer
| lettuce and cucumbers | go limp |
|---|---|
| boiled potatoes | turn mealy |
| hard-boiled eggs | turn rubbery |
| mayo and sour cream | separate |
| raw eggs in the shell | crack and beat |
Freezing a casserole? Season it lightly and add more when you reheat it.
The full carousel
Thaw it a day ahead.
Add the week's dinners to your Matlyst meal plan, so you know what's for dinner tomorrow. Free to download for iPhone and Android.
