Freezing prevents bacteria from growing it does not kill it.
Below is a list of optimal freezer times before the nutritional value and or the flavour of the food will begin to diminish.
Food or Food Group |
Length of time in freezer |
| Fruit and fruit juices | 8-12 months |
| Veges | 4-12 months |
| Meat | 2-8 months |
| – Beef, Lamb, Veal | 6 months |
| – Pork, Mince, Raw Ham, Offal | 3 months |
| – Corned Meat, Sausages | 2 months |
| – Sliced Bacon | 1 month |
| Fish | 2 months |
| – Shellfish (including crayfish) | 3 months |
| – Smoked Fish | 1-2 months |
| – Cooked Fish | 1-3 months |
| Chicken (whole) | 12 months |
| Chicken (pieces) | 6 months |
| Ice Cream | 2 months |
| Bread | 2 months |
| Muffins | 3 months |
| Scones | 1 months |
| Cake | 3 months |
| Fruit Cake | 12 months |
| Soup | 3 months |
| Egg whites | 6-8 months |
| Milk | 1-2 months |
| Cream | 1 months |
| Cheese | |
| – Hard | 4-6 weeks |
| – Soft | 2-3 months |
| – Cottage | 3-4 months |
