We tend to think that whatever we freeze will last indefinitely. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Different foods have different lifespans, so it’s important to know what loses its quality quickly and what can stay frozen longer. That's why we compiled a freezer storage guide to make sure you use up your food when it's at its best!
But, before we begin, it’s good to know that temperature plays the biggest role in how long food lasts in the freezer, so make sure it is 0 degrees or below. It’s also good to know that a full freezer runs better than an empty one. When you open a freezer door, the mass of frozen items will help keep it cold so the freezer won’t have to work as hard to cool! But don’t jam it full as it still needs a little air to circulate.
Beef/Pork
Tip: It's a good idea to re-wrap meat and poultry with heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper when you return home from the grocery store or butcher shop. If you plan to freeze it longer than two months, consider putting the re-wrapped meat in a large plastic freezer bag as well, for further protection from freezer burn.
Beef: 10 - 12 months
Pork: 8 - 12 months
Ground meat: 2 - 3 months
Bacon: 1 month
Raw sausage: 1 - 2 months
Hotdogs: 1 - 2 months
Poultry
Whole: 1 year
Pieces: 6 months
Fish and Shellfish
Tip: Fresh seafood will not last as long as already frozen seafood from the grocery store. But, if you'd like to freeze it at home, the best way is to freeze them individually on a cookie sheet and then transfer to a plastic freezer bag.
Lean fish: 6 months
Fatty fish: 2 months
Shellfish: 2-4 months
Fruits and Vegetables
Tip: Don't forget to blanch vegetables like broccoli and green beans before freezing. Store them in a tightly packed freezer bag.
Stone fruit and melons (slice before freezing): up to 6 months
Berries (remove stems) (keep them whole): 6 months
Bananas (peel before freezing): up to 3 months
Spinach: 10 - 12 months
Green beans (blanch before freezing): 8 months
Broccoli (blanch before freezing): 8 months
Bread: 3 – 6 months (but its best used within a month as flavours begin to dull)
Milk and Eggs: It’s not recommended to freeze milk or eggs but it can be done. The Government of Canada recommends freezing un-opened milk only, which will last 6 weeks in the freezer. For eggs, freeze fresh eggs out of shell for up to 4 months. For more information, click here.
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