Frozen Food Storage Tips

Food packaged for storage inside freezer.

Frozen food storage tips. Freezing food will keep it from spoiling, but the quality will still deteriorate over time. Essentially, no food benefits from storage.

Be sure to properly package steak, fish, burgers, and chicken if you plan to marinate and freeze them. Plan to use frozen foods as soon as possible.

Here are some general guidelines for frozen food storage success.

Frozen Food Storage Tips

For best results, package foods for freezing in bags or containers designed for freezers, or wrap food in foil or plastic bags. Don't use cans or glass for frozen food storage.

Freeze only fresh foods, and don't refreeze foods. When preparing foods for the freezer, always make the fitting as airtight as possible around the item you're freezing.

When using freezer bags, push the air out slowly, starting at the bottom of the bag, and pushing your way up to the zipper. Do not freeze meats in their supermarket wraps. These wraps are designed to breathe.

Remember, proper packaging prevents that icky freezer burn. It looks gross, but if you cut away the dry ("burned") areas, it's usually safe to eat.

Get in the habit of writing the date on your bags or containers and always try to use the oldest first. And remember to check your freezer temperature regularly to make sure it's between 0 F and 5 F. Don't rely on the little freezer gauge (1-5).

Get a freezer thermometer instead. 

Frozen Food Storage Tips: What's Safe, What's Not

Freezing foods helps keep them fresh, but they still won't last forever. Here are some frozen food storage tips:

  • Bread:                       2 months
  • Butter:                         9 months
  • French fries:              6 months
  • Fruits:                        4 months
  • Ground beef:               2 months
  • Guacamole:                 3 months
  • Chicken:                      6 months
  • Fish and shellfish:        6 months
  • Ice cream:                    2 months
  • Pancakes and waffles:   2 months
  • Breakfast entrees:         3 months
  • Vegetables:                   8 months

Frozen Food Storage Tips for Safely Defrosting Dinner

  • In the refrigerator: Thaw frozen meat overnight; large cuts may take longer.
  • On the countertop: Place meat in a watertight plastic bag and submerge in a bowl of cold water. Leave just until thawed, changing the water every 30 minutes. Cook or refrigerate promptly.
  • In the microwave: Use the defrost setting, then finish cooking immediately.
  • Place stews and soups, still sealed in a plastic bag, in a bowl or sink filled with hot water for 5- to 10 minutes or until it can be broken into pieces. 
  • Open the bag or container and put the pieces into a saucepan for stovetop heating, or in a microwave-safe bowl.
  • When reheating a frozen item, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water to the saucepan to prevent scorching.
  • Cover and heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Bring to a boil for one minute to make sure it is thoroughly heated.


You Might Like These:

  • Easy oven cleaning tips. A holiday pie or cheesy lasagna meltdown can turn your oven into a smoky, burnt, ooze-encrusted mess. The solution? These oven cleaning tips can help remove the unsightly mess.

    Easy Oven Cleaning Tips

    Easy oven cleaning tips. A holiday pie or cheesy lasagna meltdown can turn your oven into a smoky, burnt, ooze-encrusted mess. The solution? These oven cleaning tips can help remove the unsightly mess.

  • Used correctly, your refrigerator provides safe food storage. Used incorrectly, it could cause big trouble. These fridge food storage tips can help.

    Fridge Food Storage Tips

    Used correctly, your refrigerator provides safe food storage. Used incorrectly, it could cause big trouble. These fridge food storage tips can help.

  • Tips for cleaning floors. I love walking into a room with clean and shiny floors. Who doesn't? But cleaning floors? Not so much. Our floors are a potluck of dirt, germs, and grime.

    Tips For Cleaning Floors: Feel Good About Clean

    Tips for cleaning floors. I love walking into a room with clean and shiny floors. Who doesn't? But cleaning floors? Not so much. Our floors are a potluck of dirt, germs, and grime.

  • What does the "sell by"  date on a food label really mean? How long is it good after that date? Here's help for deciphering a food label.

    Deciphering A Food Label

    What does the "sell by" date on a food label really mean? How long is it good after that date? Here's help for deciphering a food label.

  • Hey! You're not the only one chowing down in here. How can you and the pets peacefully coexisit in the kitchen? Create a kitchen pet feeding center.

    Kitchen Pet Feeding Center

    Hey! You're not the only one chowing down in here. How can you and the pets peacefully coexisit in the kitchen? Create a kitchen pet feeding center.

  • You know when the food in your fridge has turned: The lettuce is more brown than green. But what about other items? This food shelf life guide can help.

    Food Shelf Life Guide: How Long Foods Last

    You know when the food in your fridge has turned: The lettuce is more brown than green. But what about other items? This food shelf life guide can help.

  • You've got items for recycling, especially in the kitchen. So why not create a kitchen recycling center to organize the recyclables?

    Creating a Kitchen Recycling Center

    You've got items for recycling, especially in the kitchen. So why not create a kitchen recycling center to organize the recyclables?

  • Easy kitchen decorating ideas. Amid the congestion of the fridge and the stove, table and chairs, kitchens usually have little space for decorative touches. These decorating ideas can help.

    Easy Kitchen Decorating Ideas

    Easy kitchen decorating ideas. Amid the congestion of the fridge and the stove, table and chairs, kitchens usually have little space for decorative touches. These decorating ideas can help.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.