Meal Planning: How Long Will Food Last in the Freezer
When you make meals for one, there always seem to be leftovers. Or you shop, and you have to buy enough for a family of four. So what do you do with that extra? Freeze it of course, because no one wants good food to go to waste. But we always end up questioning how long will food last in the freezer. I mean, can we really keep that chicken in there for 9 months and still eat it (cook it first, but sure)? Or should we freeze that salad (no…just no…salads do NOT thaw well, ladies!)?
There is a major food safety issue to consider for us. It’s not just not wanting food going to waste that we want to consider, but will that food be safe for us to consume after a period of time. We want to freeze things, because there’s only so many times you can eat some of that ONE meal throughout the week. And if you’re like me, you don’t know how to make a small batch of chili. It’s just NOT possible.
Wanting to know how long will food last in the freezer is important, but we can’t always keep the list memorized. That’s why I gathered together a handy list below:
Freezer Food List
| Food Item | Length of Time |
|---|---|
| Poultry (raw) | 12 months |
| Beef (raw) | 4-12 months |
| Raw Fatty Fish (e.g. salmon, perch) | 2-3 months |
| Raw Lean Fish (e.g. haddock, sole) | 6 months |
| Raw Shellfish | 3-6 months |
| Ground Meat (raw) | 3-4 months |
| Pork (raw) | 4-12 months |
| Tofu | 3-5 months |
| Egg whites (yolks can freeze, but not well) | 12 months |
| Soups | 2-3 months |
| Cooked meat leftover | 2-6 months |
| Frozen pizza | 1-2 months |
| Cheese (excluding: Cottage cheese, cream cheese, feta, goat, fresh mozzarella, Neufchâtel, Parmesan, processed cheese) | 6 months |
| Butter | 6-9 months |
| Ice Cream | 1-2 months |
| Yogurt | 1-2 months |
| Fruit | 12 months |
| Avocados | 3 months |
| Bananas | 3 months |
| Citrus Fruit | 4-6 months |
| Fruit Juice | 8-12 months |
| Fruit pies (baked) | 2-3 months |
| Fruit pies (unbaked) | 8 months |
| Breads (yeast-based) | 6 months |
| Dough (yeast -based) | 2 weeks |
| Cookie Dough | 2 months |
| Luncheon Meat | 1-2 months |
