March 1, 2011

Freezer Foods 101

With Freezer Cooking (or I call them "Baking Days"), one question is asked quite often… How long can I keep food in my freezer??  For me, the answer is simple.  When I prepare meals for the freezer, I don't intend on keeping them in the freezer for more than 2 months.  I base my menu plan around those meals/snacks so that they are typically gone within 60 days.

However, for those of you who may not have the same cooking/freezing schedule, here is a list of various foods and what the suggested freezer storage time is according to the USDA.

Item
Months
Bacon and Sausage
1 to 2
Casseroles
2 to 3
Egg whites or egg substitutes
12
Frozen Dinners and Entrees
3 to 4
Gravy, meat or poultry
2 to 3
Ham, Hotdogs and Lunchmeats
1 to 2
Meat, uncooked roasts
4 to 12
Meat, uncooked steaks or chops
4 to 12
Meat, uncooked ground
3 to 4
Meat, cooked
2 to 3
Poultry, uncooked whole
12
Poultry, uncooked parts
9
Poultry, uncooked giblets
3 to 4
Poultry, cooked
4
Soups and Stews
2 to 3
Wild game, uncooked
8 to 12

This is a great guide to review when preparing freezer meals.  Just make sure to always label your foods with a date on them so that you can keep track of everything!  You can also here for additional tips for Freezer Cooking!


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