How long will meat last in the freezer?

The length of time that meat can be stored in the freezer depends on the type of meat and how it is packaged.

Uncooked Meat

- Ground meat: 3 to 4 months

- Beef, veal, lamb, and pork roasts, steaks, and chops: 4 to 12 months

-Poultry: whole chicken or turkey, 9 months; chicken or turkey parts: 6 months

-Fish and shellfish: lean fish, such as cod, flounder, and sole: 6 to 8 months; fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel: 2 to 3 months; shellfish, such as shrimp, crab, and lobster: 3 to 6 months

Cooked Meat

- Beef, veal, lamb, and pork roasts, steaks, and chops: 2 to 3 months

- Poultry: whole chicken or turkey: 6 months; chicken or turkey parts: 4 months

-Fish and shellfish: lean fish, such as cod, flounder, and sole: 4 to 6 months; fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel: 2 to 3 months; shellfish, such as shrimp, crab, and lobster: 3 to 6 months