How long can meats and poultry stay in the freezer?

Question

I'm curious about ground beef and chicken mostly in my freezer lasting a good while. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

if its in a sealed bag, with no air, it will last for about 6 months with no bad taste. longer than that and the flavor deteriorates

Answer 2

If packaged correctly they can last at least 3 months up to as long as 6 months. For the chicken first place them on a cookie sheet not touching and freeze - this is called IQF - individually quick frozen. Then wrap each in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. ( This method will hold for 4-5 months,) For the ground beef portion out amounts that you think you will use 1/4 1/2 1 pound or whatever you think is best for your situation. Wrap each amount in plastic wrap then into a freezer bag. (This method will hold 3 - 4 months) For longer storage wrap in plastic then good quality freezer paper then the baggie. The biggest problem with freezing is getting freezer burn. While not dangerous it ain't pretty so making sure that the product you are freezing does not come in contact with air (yup there is air in the freezer) which causes that nasty burn.

Answer 3

For breakfast (now don't throw up) I have coffee with toast and salami with one Chinese preserved egg. With that as a basis, I buy about 1 to 2 months of salami which I put in a freezer door. Generally, pork or beef meat keeps for a bit longer than chicken meat. In a freezer I'd keep chickern meat no longer than 1 month and beef double that. Again, much depends on what temperature you keep.

Answer 4

When it comes to ground beef or chicken, I keep them no more than six weeks. Beef or pork can be kept up to a year. Be sure everything is wrapped well to avoid freezer burn.

Answer 5

Well, they can pretty much stay in freezer for up to a year sometimes longer, but this depends on how they are covered. You don't want anything you put in your freezer to get frost bite. It is not safe to eat after that. Grocery stores only wrap the meat in one layer of saran wrap. So, When you get meats from the grocery store and your planning on leaving it in for along period you may want to go ahead and wrap it in another layer of saran wrap. This way it will diffently assure you that it is safe from frost bite.

Answer 6

FREEZER STORAGE TIPS

For best freezer storage, temperature should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Maximum temperature should be 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Check temperature with freezer thermometer or outdoor thermometer. If no thermometer is available, use this rule of thumb; If freezer can't keep ice cream brick-solid, temperature is above the recommended level. Do not store food for more than one week in a freezer where the temperature is above the recommended level.

Date food packages with an expiration date according to maximum storage time recommended below. Longer storage is not dangerous, but flavors and textures begin to deteriorate.
For packaging, use heavy-duty foil, moisture- and vapor-proof plastic bags and wraps, freezer wrap or freezer containers. When folded, foil may develop pinholes, resulting in freezer burn.
Pick up frozen commercial foods just before going to the checkout counter. Purchase only foods frozen solid. Place in home freezer as soon as possible. Cook or thaw according to label instructions.

Freeze home frozen foods in the coldest part of freezer. Within 24 hours, freeze no more than three pounds of food per cubic foot of freezer space or one-tenth of freezer capacity. Don't try to freeze a quarter of beef in your home freezer. Bring it home from the butcher after it is frozen solid.


RECOMMENDED STORAGE PERIOD :
Note-
Storage times are figured at 0 degrees Fahrenheit

1] Ground beef, lamb, veal - 2 to 3 months

2] Ground pork - 1 to 2 months

3] Ham and picnic, cured - Freezing cured meats is not recommended. Saltiness encourages rancidity. If frozen, use within a month.

4] Luncheon meat - Freezing not recommended, emulsion may be broken and product will weep.

5] Roasts -
a] Beef - 6 to 12 months
b] Lamb, veal - 6 to 9 months
c] Pork - 3 to 6 months

6] Sausage -
a] Dry, smoked
b] 1 to 2 months
c] Fresh, unsalted 1 to 2 months

7] Steaks and chops
a] For all home-frozen meat, first check for holes in trays and plastic wrap of fresh meat. If none, freeze in this wrap up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, overwrap with suitable freezer wrap. Put two layers of waxed paper between individual ground meat patties.
c] Beef -6 to 12 months
d] Pork - 3 to 6 months
e] Lamb, veal -1 to 2 months

8] Venison
a] Ground, stew meat -2 to 3 months
b] Roasts, steaks - 8 to 12 months

Answer 7

Read the answers up to now but it's strange last night I put a chicken in the freezer and it was dead this morning.

Answer 8

theoretically for a billion years I think.

at least till the fridge rusts away.

If your food budget is $20 a day, just throw it out

If its $10 a day maybe eat it if its less than 6 moths old.

If its $5 a day eat it if its under 2 years old.

I like to buy the food fresh and cook it the same day. Fresh food tastes WAY better than frozen.

fresh is worth way more, too

they mark it waydown when they have to freeze it at the store.

So why bring food home and freeze it to make it less valuable.

Answer 9

We have a FOOD SAVER PRO vaccum sealer, so our meats last a year or two without freezer burn, etc......

Answer 10

1 month