Freezer times for meat, poultry, and fish, and how to thaw them
Quick answer
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Freezer
Keeps for 4-12 months
Overwrap meat for long storage, freeze it as fast as possible in a single layer, and keep the freezer at 0°F or lower.
Watch out Frozen meat stays safe at 0°F, but its quality drops with time, so use ground meat within 3 to 4 months for best quality.
Raw steaks, chops, and roasts keep 4 to 12 months in the freezer for best quality, and raw ground meat keeps 3 to 4 months. Raw whole poultry keeps 12 months and poultry parts keep 9 months. Meat kept constantly at 0°F stays safe, so these times are for quality, not safety. Thaw it in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave, never on the counter.
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Raw steaks, chops, and roasts keep 4 to 12 months in the freezer for best quality, and raw ground meat keeps 3 to 4 months. Meat kept constantly at 0°F stays safe, so these times are about quality, not safety.
How long does meat last in the freezer?
Raw steaks, chops, and roasts last 4 to 12 months in the freezer, and raw ground meat lasts 3 to 4 months. Those are the best-quality times in the USDA’s freezing and food safety guide. The table also lists fish, using times from USDA FoodKeeper.
| Meat, poultry, or fish | Freezer time for best quality |
|---|---|
| Raw steaks, chops, and roasts | 4 to 12 months |
| Raw ground meat | 3 to 4 months |
| Raw whole poultry | 12 months |
| Raw poultry parts | 9 months |
| Bacon and sausage | 1 to 2 months |
| Ham, hot dogs, and lunchmeats | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked meat | 2 to 3 months |
| Cooked poultry | 4 months |
| Lean fish, such as cod or sole | 6 to 8 months |
| Fatty fish, such as salmon or tuna | 2 to 3 months |
| Cooked fish | 1 to 2 months |
How long does beef last in the freezer?
Raw beef steaks and roasts last 4 to 12 months in the freezer, and raw ground beef lasts 3 to 4 months, following the USDA’s chart for meat. Cooked meat lasts 2 to 3 months.
How long does steak last in the freezer?
Raw steaks last 4 to 12 months in the freezer for best quality, the same range the USDA gives for chops and roasts. Steaks left longer stay safe at 0°F, but their quality suffers.
How long does pork last in the freezer?
A bone-in pork loin roast lasts 4 to 12 months in the freezer, and ground pork lasts 3 to 4 months. USDA FoodKeeper counts both from the date of purchase. Uncured, fresh, uncooked ham keeps 6 months, fresh bratwurst keeps 2 to 3 months, and fresh chorizo keeps 1 to 2 months.
How long does fish last in the freezer?
Lean fish lasts 6 to 8 months in the freezer, and fatty fish lasts 2 to 3 months, counted from the date of purchase. Lean fish includes cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, and sole. Fatty fish includes bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, and tuna.
How long is deer meat good in the freezer?
Raw deer meat is good for 8 to 12 months in the freezer for best quality. That’s the time the USDA’s freezer chart gives uncooked wild game. Deer meat kept constantly at 0°F stays safe past that, but its quality suffers.
Is frozen meat safe after its freezer time is up?
Yes, meat kept constantly at 0°F always stays safe, and only its quality suffers with long freezer storage. Freezing puts microbes into a dormant stage and prevents the growth of the microorganisms that cause spoilage and foodborne illness.
If a food isn’t on the chart, check its quality after thawing, starting with the odor. Discard food with a rancid or off odor. Food that doesn’t look perfect may still be edible, so use it in soups or stews.
How to wrap meat for the freezer
Overwrap meat for long storage, because proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. It’s safe to freeze meat or poultry in its original packaging, but that wrap is permeable to air, so quality may diminish over time.
For beef kept longer than 2 months, the USDA says to use airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper, or to put the package inside a plastic bag. Freeze unopened vacuum packages as they are. If a package tears or opens in the freezer, the food is still safe, so overwrap or rewrap it.
How fast should you freeze meat?
Freeze meat as fast as possible, ideally so a piece 2 inches thick freezes completely in about 2 hours. Slow freezing makes large ice crystals that damage the cells during thawing, which makes meat drip and lose juiciness.
Never stack packages to be frozen. Spread them in one layer, and stack them only after they’re frozen solid.
Is freezer-burned meat safe to eat?
Yes, freezer burn doesn’t make meat unsafe, only dry in spots. It appears as grayish-brown leathery spots or white dried patches. Air coming in contact with the surface causes it, especially when meat is frozen for a long time or isn’t wrapped and sealed properly.
The dried areas are tasteless, and you can cut them away before or after cooking. Heavily freezer-burned meat may have to be discarded for quality reasons.
Is frozen meat safe if it changes color?
Yes, fading and darkening in frozen meat don’t affect its safety. The bright red color of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown, depending on the variety, which may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn, or abnormally long storage. Freezer-type wrapping and pushing as much air as possible out of the package minimize these changes.
How to thaw frozen meat safely
Thaw meat in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. It’s best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Never thaw meat in a garage, basement, car, dishwasher, or plastic garbage bag, or out on the counter, outdoors, or on the porch. Those methods can leave your food unsafe to eat.
- In the refrigerator, small items may thaw overnight and most foods need a day or two. Large items like turkeys may take longer, about one day for each 5 pounds.
- In cold water, place the meat in a leak-proof plastic bag and immerse it, because a leaking bag can let in bacteria. Check that the water stays cold, change it every 30 minutes, and cook the meat right after it thaws.
- In the microwave, plan to cook the meat right after thawing, because some areas may become warm and begin to cook.
How long can raw or cooked meat sit out?
Raw or cooked meat can sit out for no more than 2 hours. The USDA says to discard food that has been warmer than 40°F for more than 2 hours.
Meat left out too long shouldn’t go back in the freezer either. Don’t refreeze any food left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours, or longer than 1 hour above 90°F.
Can you refreeze meat?
Yes, meat thawed in the refrigerator is safe to refreeze without cooking it first, though you may lose some quality. After you cook raw meat that was frozen before, it’s safe to freeze the cooked meat.
If cooked meat was thawed in the refrigerator, you can refreeze the unused portion, and leftovers should be frozen within 3 to 4 days. Don’t refreeze any food that was left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours, or longer than 1 hour above 90°F.
How long is taco meat good for in the fridge?
Cooked taco meat keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge, since the USDA says to freeze leftovers within 3 to 4 days. Freeze it by then if you won’t eat it in time.
Yes, you can freeze taco meat. Cooked meat keeps 2 to 3 months in the freezer for best quality, and it stays safe after that if the freezer stays at 0°F.
Can you cook meat from frozen?
Yes, raw or cooked meat, poultry, and casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state, but it takes about one and a half times as long. Discard any wrapping or absorbent paper from the meat first.
For whole frozen poultry, remove the giblet pack from the cavity as soon as you can loosen it, and cook the giblets separately. Some USDA-inspected frozen meat and poultry products, such as pre-stuffed whole birds, must be cooked from the frozen state to ensure a safely cooked product, so read the label.
Is frozen meat safe after a power outage?
Frozen meat may still be safe after a power outage if ice crystals remain. A full freezer usually keeps food frozen for about 2 days if the door stays shut, and a half-full freezer lasts about a day.
Don’t keep food outdoors, even in snow. Frozen food can thaw in the sun’s rays when it’s very cold.
What to do while the power is out
If it looks like the power will be back soon, don’t open the freezer door. To help the meat retain the cold, take these steps.
- If the freezer isn’t full, quickly group packages together so they retain the cold more effectively.
- Separate meat and poultry from other foods, so their juices won’t drip onto other foods if they begin to thaw.
- Put dry ice, block ice, or bags of ice in the freezer, or move the food to a friend’s freezer until power is restored.
What to do when the power comes back
Check the condition and temperature of the food. If it’s partly frozen, still has ice crystals, or is as cold as it would be in a refrigerator (40°F), it’s safe to use or refreeze. You don’t need to cook raw meat before refreezing it. Discard food that has been warmer than 40°F for more than 2 hours, and any food contaminated by raw meat juices.
Frequently asked questions
How long does cooked meat last in the freezer?
Cooked meat lasts 2 to 3 months in the freezer for best quality, cooked poultry lasts 4 months, and cooked fish lasts 1 to 2 months. Freeze leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
What temperature should the freezer be for meat?
Keep it at 0°F or lower. That helps food retain its vitamin content, color, flavor, and texture, and meat kept constantly at 0°F stays safe.
Do you need to rinse meat before freezing it?
No, it isn't necessary to rinse meat or poultry before you freeze it.
Can you refreeze meat you bought already frozen?
Yes, you can refreeze previously frozen meat, poultry, or fish bought at a retail store if it has been handled properly.
Does it matter how fresh meat is when you freeze it?
Yes. Meat frozen at peak quality tastes better after thawing than meat frozen near the end of its useful life, so freeze meat you won't use quickly sooner rather than later.
