How Long Can You Freeze Food?

AOL.com Editors
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How Long Can You Freeze Food?


The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a campaign to help you keep your food from going to waste. They've released a Foodkeeper storage guide so consumers will know what types of food are safe to keep and which should be thrown away.

As Food Safety News reports, "Food poisoning bacteria does not grow in the freezer, so no matter how long a food is frozen, it is safe to eat. Foods that have been in the freezer for months may be dry, or may not taste as good, but they will be safe to eat."

Here's a handy list of how long popular foods can be stored in the freezer before their quality suffers. Read it carefully; some times may be longer than you think!

  • Chicken or turkey pieces, uncooked: 9 months

  • Fruit pies, unbaked: 8 months

  • Fruit: 6 to 12 months

  • Steaks, uncooked: 6 to 12 months

  • Butter: 6 to 9 months

  • Lean fish: 6 months

  • Roasts, uncooked: 4 to 12 months

  • Chicken or turkey, cooked: 4 to 6 months

  • Chops, uncooked: 4 to 6 months

  • Shellfish, uncooked: 3 to 6 months

  • Hamburger: 3 to 4 months

  • Bread and cake: 3 months

  • Cookies, baked or dough: 3 months

  • Meat casseroles, cooked: 3 months

  • Fatty fish: 2 to 3 months

  • Soups and stews: 2 to 3 months

  • Ice cream and sorbet: two months

  • Ham, cooked: 1 to 2 months

  • Bacon: 1 month

Check out the slideshow below for eight foods you should NEVER freeze.

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