What is the average storage life of foods stored in the freezer? I did a little research on the Internet, and I found some nifty charts. A good idea would be to hang a chart on an inside cabinet or on the fridge to refer to when I am wondering if the frozen fish is still safe to eat.
What I learned from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service site is that frozen food can remain safe indefinitely as long as it stays frozen. If food is frozen too long, freezer burn or discoloring may occur affecting the taste and quality of the food. Below is a chart that will help cooks to decide if the food they wish to eat is still of good quality.
Freezer Storage Chart (0 °F)
Note: Freezer storage is for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely.
|
ITEM |
MONTHS |
| Bacon and Sausage | 1-2 months |
| Casseroles | 2-3 months |
| Egg Whites or Egg Substitutes | 12 months |
| Frozen Dinners or Entrees | 3-4 months |
| Gravy, Meat, or Poultry | 2-3 months |
| Ham, Hotdogs, or Lunchmeat | 1-2 months |
| Meats, Uncooked Roasts | 4-12 months |
| Meat, uncooked steaks or chops | 4-12 months |
| Meat, uncooked ground | 3-4 months |
| Meat, cooked | 2-3 months |
| Poultry, uncooked whole | 12 months |
| Poultry, uncooked parts | 9 months |
| Poultry, uncooked giblets | 3-4 months |
| Poultry, cooked | 4 months |
| Soups, Chili, and Stews | 2-3 months |
| Wild game, uncooked | 12 months |
You can check out more food safety facts at the USDA site http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp
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Now that is a helpful chart. We load our freezer down regularly here.
I am glad you can use the chart. It is a handy thing to have. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day. 🙂
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