How Long Food Lasts

Seafood / Fresh

How long does lean fish last?

Quick answer

Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.) keeps 1 day in the fridge and 6-8 months in the freezer.

  • Cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc. 1 day in the fridge · 6-8 months in the freezer
  • Pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout. 1 day in the fridge · 4-8 months in the freezer
Form

Fridge

1day

Freezer

Can be frozen: yes

6-8months

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 lean fish last in the fridge?

  • Cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.1 day
  • Pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.1 day

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 lean fish last in the freezer?

  • Cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.6-8 months
  • Pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.4-8 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 lean fish?

Yes.

How to defrost lean fish safely

  1. In the fridge
  2. In cold water, cook it straight after defrosting
  3. In the microwave, cook it straight after defrosting
  4. 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 lean 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 lean fish be kept out of the fridge?

Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for lean fish.

All forms at a glance

FormFridgeFreezerPantry
Cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.1 day6-8 months-
Pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.1 day4-8 months-

What the official sources say

“Lean Fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.) 6 - 8 Months”

“Fresh lean fish: cod, flounder, trout, haddock, halibut, pollack, perch 1-2 days”

“Fish and shellfish, fresh cleaned fish, including steaks and fillets 1 day”

“cod, flounder 1 to 2 days 6 to 10 months”

Frequently asked questions

How long does lean fish last in the fridge?

Cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.: 1 day; Pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.: 1 day.

How long does lean fish last in the freezer?

Cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.: 6-8 months; Pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.: 4-8 months. Freezer times are for quality; frozen food stays safe.

Can you freeze lean fish?

Yes.

Can you refreeze lean fish?

In the United Kingdom: Only after cooking; In the United States: Yes.

Can lean fish be kept out of the fridge?

Official sources give no room-temperature (cupboard) storage time for lean fish.

Good to know

Other figures given by the sources for close variants:

  • Fin Fish, Lean Fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.) Fridge 1-3 days Freezer 6-8 months
  • Fin Fish, Lean Fish (pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.) Fridge 1-3 days Freezer 4-8 months

Sources

We always show the most cautious time among official sources. Last checked: 1 October 2026.