Freezer storage chart
How long common foods keep their quality in the freezer. Frozen food stays safe; the times are for quality. Last verified: October 1, 2026.
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.
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.
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 |