Freezer storage chart
How long common foods keep their quality in the freezer. Frozen food stays safe; the times are for quality. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
United Kingdom
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.
United States
Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage.
Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only.
Freezer storage chart
| Food | Form | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | Whole | 12 months |
| Ground chicken | 3-4 months | |
| Pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat | 1-2 months | |
| Beef | Rib roast, bone-in | 4-12 months |
| Rib roast; boneless, rolled | 4-12 months | |
| Round or rump roast | 4-12 months | |
| Pork | Loin roast, bone-in | 4-12 months |
| Loin roast, boneless | 4-12 months | |
| Loin chops, bone-in | 4-12 months | |
| Ham | Shelf-stable cans, opened | 1-2 months |
| Pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat | 1-2 months | |
| Pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat, opened | 1-2 months | |
| Bacon | Fully cooked | 3 months |
| Uncured | 3-4 weeks | |
| Bacon | 1 month | |
| Sausage | Raw bulk type or patties | 1-2 months |
| Fully cooked smoked links, kielbasa | 1-2 months | |
| Hard, dry (pepperoni), sliced | 1-2 months | |
| Turkey | Whole | 12 months |
| Ground turkey | 3-4 months | |
| Pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat | 1-2 months | |
| Fish | Hot smoked, air pack | 9-12 months |
| Hot smoked, vacuum pack | 6-12 months | |
| Cold smoked, air pack | 9-12 months | |
| Shrimp | Shrimp | 6-18 months |
| Frozen shrimp | 12-18 months | |
| Eggs | General guidance | 3 months |
| Milk | Plain or flavored | 3 months |
| General guidance | 1 month | |
| Butter | Butter | 3 months |
| Cheese | Hard such as cheddar, swiss, block parmesan | 2 months |
| Shredded; cheddar, mozzarella, etc. | 3-4 months | |
| General guidance | 6 months | |
| Yogurt | Yogurt | 1-2 months |
| Cream | Whipped, sweetened | 1-2 months |
| Half and half | 4 months | |
| Heavy | 3-4 months | |
| Cooked rice | Cooked rice | 3 months |
| Cooked pasta | Cooked pasta | 4 weeks |
| Leftovers | With meat, fish, poultry, or egg | 2-3 months |
| Without meat, fish, poultry, or egg (such as cooked vegitables, rice, or potatoes) | 1-2 months | |
| Pizza | 1-2 months | |
| Soup | Soup | 2-3 months |
| Bread | Homemade | 2-3 months |
| Strawberries | Strawberries | 8-12 months |
| Berries | Cherries, goose berries, lychee | 12 months |
| Blackberries, boysenberries, currant | 12 months | |
| General guidance | 3 months | |
| Apples | Apples | 3 months |
| Bananas | Bananas | 2-3 months |
| Tomatoes | Tomatoes | 2 months |
| Carrots | Carrots | 2 weeks |
| Mushrooms | Mushrooms | 10-12 months |
| UK advice | 3 months | |
| Onions | Yellow, white, red, etc. | 10-12 months |
| Spring or green | 10-12 months | |
| UK advice | 3 months | |
| Potatoes | Potatoes | 10-12 months |