Think of your freezer as your savings account, where you can set aside “funds” (aka food) for a rainy day. Buying meat in bulk and stocking up the freezer is a great way to save money, reduce trips to the grocery store, and ensure you always have something to eat. Your checking account is the refrigerator, where you keep the assets you’ll be using soon.
It’s crucial to be aware of some crucial safety guidelines for freezing and thawing your meat if you want to get the most value for your money. Learn all the details here for smarter shopping and saving!.
| Food | Type | Freezer (0 °F or below) |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh beef, veal, lamb, and pork | Steaks | 4 to 12 months |
| Chops | 4 to 12 months | |
| Roasts | 4 to 12 months | |
| Ham | Fresh, uncured, uncooked | 6 months |
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.
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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.
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FAQ
Is 2 year old frozen beef still good?
Information. Frozen beef will be safe indefinitely. Use raw steaks, roasts, or chops within four to twelve months, raw ground beef within four months, and cooked beef within two to three months for best quality.
Does beef go bad in the freezer?
Uncooked beef, poultry, and pork can be kept for up to a year in the freezer, while fully cooked meats like ham, sausage, and bacon can be frozen for up to two months. For roughly three to four months, raw hamburgers and ground beef should remain fresh.
How do you know if beef is bad out of the freezer?
If the food has a funky odor, especially if it is meat or seafood, it has gone bad as a result of a less-than-ideal freezer environment. This smell might not be as noticeable until the food is thawed. Don’t even risk it — just call in some takeout.