How Long Foods Really Last in the Freezer (It’s Shorter Than You Think)

When it comes to stocking up on basics (and for last-minute, hanger-fuelled cravings) the freezer can be your best friend. It extends the lifespan of food by putting the brakes on bacterial growth, making our busy lives that much more convenient.

But we’re all guilty of throwing unlabelled, butcher-wrapped food into that icy abyss without a plan as to when we’ll use it (beyond “someday soon”).

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To stay safe and prevent food-borne illness (and unnecessary food waste) it’s important to use proper freezing and thawing techniques and checking to make sure your freezer is the proper temperature of -18 °C or lower.

But even if you do everything right, how long are frozen foods  really good for?

We reviewed Health Canada’s safe food-storage guidelines, and found that the rules vary significantly depending on how food is processed.  We’ve put together a freezer timeline of commonly kept items (and which foods are best not to freeze, period) so you can make sure the contents of your freezer remain ready to eat.

And one essential tip before we start —  make it a habit to keep blank sticky labels and a Sharpie in the kitchen drawer, so you can write the date on everything you’re about to park in the freezer.

Meat and Poultry

Whole roasts, birds  and steaks can last up to 12 months in the freezer before they need to be thrown out, so go ahead and buy your Thanksgiving turkey early. Ground meat and smaller pieces last significantly less time in the freezer than their whole counterparts (a larger surface area means more opportunity for contamination). So, if that ground beef has been kicking around for more than 2-3 months, toss it, and if you have chicken breasts or thighs that have been in there for more than 6 months, it’s time to say sayonara.

Ways To Use It Up:
Sloppy joes
One-pan pizza pasta
Chinese-style lemon chicken
Quick chicken posole

Fish

Lean fish (cod, tilapia, haddock) can last up to 6 months in the freezer, while fattier varieties (salmon, swordfish, tuna) have a shorter lifespan of up to 2 months. Frozen shrimp, scallops, lobster and crab can last a bit longer, anywhere from 2 to 4 months.

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Ways To Use It Up:
Lobster, mango and avocado salad rolls
Shrimp primavera pasta
Cornmeal pickerel

Vegetables

For vegetables with a higher water content (lettuce, tomatoes) it’s best to store them in the fridge and use quickly after buying. Hardier vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and beans freeze well and will last anywhere from 8 months to 1 year. For crisp vegetables that maintain their colour (like asparagus), blanch your fresh vegetables before freezing.

Ways To Use It Up:
Macaroni and cheese with roasted butternut squash
Thai sweet potato red curry soup
Tortellini alfredo with peas and bacon

Butter

Leftover butter from a weekend baking project or for the occasional dinner recipe can be safely stored in the freezer and defrosted for the next time you need it. But be aware of what kind of butter it is — salted butter will last for up to 1 year, while unsalted is only good for 3 months. Why? Salt acts as a preservative to slow bacterial growth.

Ways To Use It Up:
All-butter pastry
Harissa butter grilled corn
Butter tarts 
Brown butter green beans

Cooked Casseroles, Soups and Stews

So you’re a meal-prep overachiever and have stacked your freezer with ready-to-defrost meals for busy weeks ahead, but how long are they good for? Cooked meat, stews, and vegetable dishes will keep for 2-3 months, while cooked poultry and fish is good for 4-6 months. Puréed and broth-based soups and stocks will last for up to 4 months.

Freezer Meal Ideas:
Easy minestrone
Spaghetti bolognese
Chicken stock
Moroccan chicken stew

Frozen Puff And Phyllo Pastry

Store-bought pastry is great to have on hand as a time-saving substitute for homemade. Puff and phyllo pastry will last up to 3 months when stored unopened in the freezer. Once it has been defrosted it should be used quickly, and not re-frozen.

Ways To Use It Up:
Heirloom tomato and roasted garlic tart
Puff pastry cheese straws
Chocolate-almond cretzels
Spanakopita pizza

7. Ice Cream

Contrary to what you may think, that pint of mint-chip is not indestructible. Opened, ice cream will keep for up to 2 months, while unopened it will be good for up to 3 months (for those of you who have above-average self control).

Ways To use It Up
Ice cream sandwiches
Grilled pineapple
Cake toast with honeyed strawberries
Latin sundaes

8. Pizza & Frozen Dinners

A frozen pizza or shepherds pie can be a real saviour when you’re in a dinner jam. Just be sure to make use of that ‘za within 2 months and bust out that pre-made dinner within 3-4 months.

9. Store-Bought Appetizers

Store-bought hors d’oeuvres are a great entertaining shortcut, but don’t run the risk of giving your guests food poisoning at your next soirée. Before digging out and defrosting the pigs-in-blankets in the back of your freezer make sure they haven’t been hanging around in there for more than 3 months.

Photo, William Felker / Unsplash.

10. Frozen Fruit

Forgot about that bag of mixed berries you bought for making morning smoothies? If it’s been less than 6 months you’re in the clear. If not, best to toss it and save yourself from sub-par smoothies.

Ways to use It Up:
Berry blast smoothie bowl
Shortcut blueberry pie
Instant cherry sorbet
Frozen strawberry margarita

What Not To Freeze

Opened dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, as well as fresh eggs and egg substitutes should not be frozen. And avoid freezing soft cheeses, like brie, cottage cheese or ricotta.

Thinking of stashing that deli potato or macaroni salad for later? You shouldn’t freeze salads that contain mayonnaise — freezing causes the emulsion of eggs and oil to break when it thaws, leaving you with an oily mess.

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