Glad’s helpful guide to freezing meat makes it simple to store meat if you want to prolong the life of meat you’ve already purchased. However, depending on the type of meat and how it is stored, meat can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer for a short while or for a long time. Here’s everything you need to know about storing meat.
How do I store meat in the freezer?
First, ensure that all of your foods, including meat, are being frozen at or below 0° Fahrenheit. This is the temp that keeps food safe. Meat can be frozen in its original packaging, but the FDA advises using heavy-duty packaging, such as foil, plastic wrap, or freezer bags, if you intend to store it in your freezer for more than two months. You can seal protein inside an airtight , too. Utilize one of our top-rated, best vacuum sealers to preserve freshness.
How long does frozen meat last?
Whole chickens and turkeys can be frozen for up to a year. Giblets should only be stored for three to four months and should be consumed within nine months of purchase of the turkey or chicken.
Beef, Veal, & Lamb
For six to twelve months, raw steaks can be kept in the freezer. Chops can be frozen for four to six months, but roasts can last up to a year.
Similar to beef, uncooked pork can be stored in the freezer for up to a year in the form of roasts and chops, respectively. Bacon, sausage, hot dogs, ham, and lunch meats made from processed pork shouldn’t be kept in the freezer for more than one to two months.
While fatty fish only lasts two to three months in the freezer, lean fish can be stored there for up to six months.
Join Our Membership Club to Get Unlimited Access
Bass, cod, tuna, and tilapia are examples of common lean fish, while mackerel, salmon, and sardines are examples of common fatty fish.
Other fresh seafood, like squid, scallops, crawfish, and shrimp, should keep in the freezer for three to six months.
For three to four months, ground beef, turkey, lamb, or veal will retain their quality in the freezer. (The same goes for hamburger meat!).
Cooked & Leftover Meat
Cooked meat doesn’t keep its quality in the freezer as long as raw meat does: Beef, veal, lamb, and pork shouldn’t be kept in the freezer for more than two to three months. Cooked fish can be kept in the freezer for four to six months.
Hannah Jeon writes expert-driven commerce content for everything related to health, wellness, and beauty as an associate commerce editor for Prevention. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology, and was formerly the editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping. When she’s not searching online for the best products, you can usually find her exploring new restaurants in New York City or clicking away with a camera.
As an assistant editor for the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Samantha (she/her) writes about delectable recipes, must-try food items, and tried-and-true tips for successful home cooking. Since joining GH in 2020, she has tasted hundreds of products and recipes (a difficult job!). She is a Fordham University alum and believes that her happy place is in the kitchen.
Ask the Test Kitchen: How Long Will Meat Last in the Fridge?
FAQ
Can you freeze leftover cooked beef?
Meat leftovers and dishes prepared with previously frozen meat are acceptable examples of cooked meat that can be frozen. Just let it cool before freezing.
Is meat still good after 2 years in freezer?
Can You Eat Two-Year-Old Frozen Meat? The U. S. According to the Department of Agriculture, food stored continuously at 0 degrees Fahrenheit is always safe. This means that properly stored and well-wrapped frozen meat can still be consumed after two years. Just be aware that flavor and quality might be lost.
How can you tell if beef has gone bad in the freezer?
To determine if your frozen foods are still edible, look for the following symptoms. It’s freezer burnt. There’s a change in texture. It smells weird. You can’t remember when you froze it. It’s sitting in a frozen puddle. The packaging is ripped. How to safely thaw food.
Can you eat frozen beef after 6 months?
The FDA states that cuts like roasts can be kept frozen for 4 to 12 months and steaks for 6 to 12 months. No more than three to four months’ worth of ground beef should be kept frozen. Once cooked, you can also safely freeze those beefy leftovers.