Your Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Meat, Poultry and Seafood (and How Long They Last)

Livestrong.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Make meal prep a bit easier by freezing extra meat you bought at the supermarket in ready-to-cook portions.
Image Credit: Qwart/iStock/GettyImages

Perhaps you found a good deal on a family pack of chicken breast or a five-pound package of ground beef.

Advertisement

Or maybe you bought some salmon fillets and then realized, after the fact, that you won't be home to cook and eat them within a day or two.

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Whatever the case may be, freezing meat, poultry and seafood is a fantastic way to keep your proteins fresh and ready for a future meal.

Isn't it great to open the freezer and find pork tenderloin or lamb chops that can be defrosted and ready for dinner without making a trip to the store?

Advertisement

We think so, which is why we put together this go-to guide on how to freeze meat properly and a handy chart to consult when you're wondering how long your future lunch or dinner will last.

Tip

The number one thing to remember when freezing animal-based protein is that it should be divided into portion-sized quantities for packaging. (Psst, here's what servings of meat and seafood actually look like.) For best results, freeze them as soon as you get home with your haul.

What You'll Need to Freeze Meat, Poultry and Seafood

Advertisement

How to Freeze Meat, Poultry and Seafood

  1. Open the packaging and split the meat, poultry or seafood into portion sizes or into the amount you would reasonably defrost at a time.
  2. Wrap each portion with freezer paper or aluminum foil and place into a resealable freezer bag.
  3. Place each wrapped portion in a resealable bag.
  4. Label each resealable bag with the name of the item and the date you packed it.

Advertisement

Related Reading

How to Wrap Animal Protein Properly

  1. To best wrap certain cuts of meat, many use what is called the drugstore wrap, a method similar to wrapping a gift. This method both presses and locks out air, keeping your food extra fresh. Freezer paper is best for this technique, but aluminum foil may be used instead.
  2. Place food in the center of a sheet of freezer wrap. Note that you may first use plastic wrap to cushion anything that protrudes, such as a bone, before wrapping the whole item.
  3. Bring the two longest sides together over the food and fold the edges over by about one inch and crease the paper.
  4. Bring the seam down, pressing it flat against the top of the food.
  5. Fold the corners of each end toward the center, making a triangle and then press out the air and fold the triangle's tip down flat, toward to the package. Press the end up flat against the package and tape securely with masking tape.
  6. To pack more than one serving in a package, separate each with freezer paper or aluminum foil. Do not stack more than three inches high per package.

How Long Frozen Meat Lasts

Food

Preparation

Maximum Time Stored

Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork

Steak

6 to 12 months

Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork

Chops

4 to 6 months

Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork

Roasts

4 to 12 months

Beef, Veal, Lamb, Pork

Ground and stew meat

3 to 4 months

Chicken or Turkey

Whole

12 months

Chicken or Turkey

Parts

9 months

Chicken or Turkey

Ground and stew meat

3 to 4 months

Meat or Poultry

Sausage

1 to 2 months

Lean fish

Fillets or pieces

6 to 8 months

Fatty fish

Fillets or pieces

2 to 3 months

Shellfish, squid, octopus

Washed and cleaned

3 to 6 months

Clams, oysters, scallops

Live in-shell or shucked

3 to 6 months

Source(s): US Food and Drug Administration
references