How long does fish last?
Quick answer
Fish (raw but headed and gutted) keeps 1 day in the fridge and 3-6 months in the freezer.
Fridge
1day
Freezer
Can be frozen: yes
3-6months
Pantry
No known time
-
Mine has been in the fridge for
Refreeze after thawing in the fridge?
- United States
- Yes
- United Kingdom
- Only after cooking
How long does fish last in the fridge?
- Raw but headed and gutted1 day
- General guidance24 hoursFrom purchase
Your fridge should be set between 0 and 5°C.
Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 °F or below.
How long does fish last in the freezer?
- Hot smoked, air pack9-12 months
- Hot smoked, vacuum pack6-12 months
- Cold smoked, air pack9-12 months
- Cold smoked, vacuum pack9-12 months
- Breaded3-4 months
- Raw but headed and gutted3-6 months
Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.
Your freezer should be around -18°C
A freezer acts as a pause button - food in a freezer won’t go bad and most bacteria cannot grow in it.
Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.
Can you freeze fish?
Yes.
How to defrost fish safely
- In the fridge
- In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
- In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
- Cook it from frozen
You should defrost your food in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm
It’s also important to use food within 24 hours after it’s been fully defrosted
There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.
Check the water frequently to be sure it stays cold. Change the water every 30 minutes. After thawing, cook immediately.
It is safe to cook foods from the frozen state. The cooking will take approximately 50% longer than the recommended time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry.
Can you refreeze fish?
- In the United KingdomOnly after cooking
- In the United StatesYes
You can freeze food again once cooked, but you’ll only be able to reheat it once after that
Food thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking, although there may be some loss of quality.
Foods thawed by the cold water method should be cooked before refreezing.
After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods.
Can fish be kept out of the fridge?
Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for fish.
All forms at a glance
| Form | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot smoked, air pack | - | 9-12 months | - |
| Hot smoked, vacuum pack | - | 6-12 months | - |
| Cold smoked, air pack | - | 9-12 months | - |
| Cold smoked, vacuum pack | - | 9-12 months | - |
| Breaded | - | 3-4 months | - |
| Raw but headed and gutted | 1 day | 3-6 months | - |
| General guidance | 24 hours | - | - |
What the official sources say
“It's best to eat frozen food within 3 - 6 months.”
“Frozen meat and fish will keep and be safe to eat for a long time, however, you should try to eat these foods within 3 to 6 months as the quality can be affected.”
“For best quality, do not store in the refrigerator longer than three weeks from the date of packaging.”
“Frozen Breaded Catfish Products Keep frozen until cooking. 3 to 4 months N/A”
Frequently asked questions
How long does fish last in the fridge?
Raw but headed and gutted: 1 day; General guidance: 24 hours.
How long does fish last in the freezer?
Hot smoked, air pack: 9-12 months; Hot smoked, vacuum pack: 6-12 months; Cold smoked, air pack: 9-12 months; Cold smoked, vacuum pack: 9-12 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.
Can you freeze fish?
Yes.
Can you refreeze fish?
In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking; In the United States: Yes.
Can fish be kept out of the fridge?
Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for fish.
Sources
We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
- FoodSafety.gov Cold Food Storage Chart US
- Food Standards Agency - consumer food hygiene guidance GB
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System US
- Ministère de l'Agriculture FR
- Kansas State University Research and Extension US
- Wyoming Department of Health US
- Clemson University Extension US
- Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP) GB
- North Dakota State University Extension US
- NHS inform (Scotland) GB
- Ohio State University Extension US
- Oregon State University Extension US
- Surrey Environment Partnership GB
- USDA FSIS FoodKeeper data US
- USDA FSIS Safe Food Handling and Preparation US
Values we do not display (12)
Values below were set aside: unconfirmed by a second independent source, or contradicted by a shorter time.
- Cold smoked, air pack, fridge: 14-30 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- Cold smoked, vacuum pack, fridge: 21-30 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- Cold smoked, vacuum pack, fridge: 3 weeks (seafood.oregonstate.edu, a source gives a shorter time)
- Cold smoked, vacuum pack, fridge: 21-30 days (health.wyo.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- General guidance, fridge: 3-4 days (health.wyo.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- General guidance, fridge: 3-4 days (hgic.clemson.edu, a source gives a shorter time)
- Hot smoked, air pack, fridge: 14-45 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- Hot smoked, air pack, fridge: 14-45 days (health.wyo.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- Hot smoked, vacuum pack, fridge: 14-45 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- Hot smoked, vacuum pack, fridge: 14-45 days (health.wyo.gov, a source gives a shorter time)
- Hot smoked, vacuum pack, fridge: 3 weeks (seafood.oregonstate.edu, a source gives a shorter time)
- Raw but headed and gutted, fridge: 3-4 days (fsis.usda.gov, a source gives a shorter time)