How Long Can You Store Fish & Meat in the Freezer?

Freezing allows you to keep foods for longer periods of time.

Fresh Fish and Meat

As a general rule, uncooked fish and meats can be frozen for longer periods of time. Shellfish and the more fatty fish can be stored in the freezer for two months; however, lean fish has a longer freezer life of six months.

Fresh meat and poultry can be packaged and stored in a freezer for longer periods than fish. It is recommended to freeze ground meat for about three months. Larger cuts of beef such as steak and roast can be frozen for up to 12 months.

Cooked Fish and Meat

If well-packaged, cooked meat and poultry can be stored in a freezer for up to three months, while it is not recommended to freeze cooked fish.

Bottom Line

Whether you are storing fresh fish or cooked meat, it is important to properly package it in a zero degree freezer. Wrap all meat in heavy duty foil and label it with the date it was purchased to ensure it is consumed within the recommended time frame.

References

• Oprah.com: Dr. Katz on Frozen Food
• Can Fight Bac.org: Storage Chart