Dairy Products

Butter

12 months

Cottage, ricotta cheese

4 weeks

Cream cheese

NR

Natural, aged and pasteurized, process cheese

6-8 months

Cream, light, half-and-half

3-4 weeks

Margarine

12 months

Milk

NR

Sour cream

NR

Whipped topping, canned or thawed

NR

Yogurt

NR

Eggs and Egg Products

Fresh, in-shell eggs

NR

Eggs, fresh yolks or whites (not in shell)

12 months

Hard-boiled eggs

NR

Egg-containing products (custards, puddings, pastries)

NR

Fruits

Juice concentrates

12 months

Purees

8-10 months

Sauces

8-10 months

Shredded, fresh coconut in coconut milk

3 months

Vegetables

Asparagus

8 months

Beans, green

8 months

Cauliflower, broccoli

8-10 months

Corn

8-10 months

Peas

8-10 months

Peas

8-10 months

Spinach

8 months

Unsalted nut meats

12 months

Salted nuts

3 months

Most fruits and fresh vegetables can be frozen up to 12 months if they are packaged properly.  Consult your local county extension agent for recommended procedures.

Meats

Bacon

1 month

Fresh bratwurst

2-3 months

Chops, Pork

3-4 months

Chops, lamb, veal

6-9 months

Cooked meat and meat dishes

2-3 months

Frankfurters

1-2 months

Gravies and broths

2-3 months

Ground beef, stew meat, ground pork

3-4 months

Ham, whole and half

1 ½ -2 months

Luncheon meats

1-2 months

Pork sausage

3-4 months

Smoked sausage

1-2 months

Dry and semi-dry sausage

1-2 months

Poultry

Fresh chicken and turkey, whole

12 months

Fresh chicken pieces

9 months

Fresh turkey pieces

6 months

Cooked poultry pieces in broth

6 months

Cooked poultry, no broth

1 month

Cooked poultry dishes

4-6 months

Duck and goose, whole, fresh

6 months

Fried chicken

6 months

Fresh giblets

3-4 months

Uncooked Seafood

Clams, shucked oysters, scallops

3-4 months

Crab

2 months

Fresh water fish, cleaned

6-9 months

Lobster

6-12 months

Ocean fish, cold water

4-6 months

Ocean fish, warm water

3 months

Salmon steaks

2 months

Shrimp

6-12 months

Note:  It is not recommended to freeze cooked fish.

Breads, Cakes, Pastries

Unbaked yeast bread/rolls

1 month

Baked quick bread

2 months

Baked muffins

6-12 months

Plain doughnuts

2-4 months

Waffles

1 month

Unbaked fruit pie

2-4 months

Baked fruit pie

6-8 months

Custard, cream, chiffon pie

1-2 months

Unbaked cookie dough

3 months

Baked cookies

6-12 months

Unbaked cake batter

1 month

Frosted baked cake

1 month

Unfrosted baked cake

2-4 months

Angel cake

6-12 months

Fruit cake

6-12 months

Butter

3 months

Natural aged cheese, wax-coated blocks of brick, cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella

3-6 months

Opened or sliced aged cheese

2-3 weeks

Cottage cheese

1-2 weeks

Cream

1-2 weeks

Sour cream

2-3 weeks

Sour cream dips

1-2 weeks

Fresh eggs

2-4 weeks

Hard-boiled eggs

2 weeks

Milk

1-2 weeks

Margarine

3 months

Yogurt

1 month

Puddings, custards

1-2 days

Salad dressings

Several months

Bacon, hot dogs, opened

1 week

Bacon, hot dogs, unopened

2 weeks

Fresh bratwurst

2-3 days

Ground meat, stew meat

1-2 days

Luncheon meat, opened or deli-sliced

3-5 days

Luncheon meat, unopened

2 weeks

Meat, poultry, seafood salads

3-5 days

Fresh poultry

1-2 days

Fresh roasts, steaks, chops

3-5 days

Pork sausage

1-2 days

Fresh seafood

3-5 days

Casseroles

1-2 days

Soups, stews

2-3 days

Baking powder

18 months

Baking soda

2 years

Biscuit, brownie, muffin mix

9 months

Bouillon cubes/granules

2 years

Bread crumbs (dried)

6 months

Breakfast formulas

6 months

Cake mixes

9-12 months

Canned fruit juice

9 months

Canned foods

12 months

Casserole mix

9-12 months

Catsup, chili sauce

12 months

Cereal, dry

6-12 months

Cereal, hot types (dry)

6 months

Cheese, parmesan

10 months

Chocolate

12-18 months

Chocolate syrup

2 years

Cocoa mix

8 months

Coconut

12 months

Coffee, canned

2 years

Cookies, homemade

2-3 weeks

Cookies, packaged

2 months

Cornmeal

12 months

Cornstarch

18 months

Crackers

3 months

Flour

6-8 months

Frosting, canned

3 months

Frosting, dry mix

8 months

Fruit, dried

6 months

Gelatin, dry

18 months

Grits

12 months

Honey, jelly, jam

12 months

Hot roll mix

18 months

Marshmallow cream

3-4 months

Pie and pastries

2-3 days

Popcorn, dried

2 years

Potatoes, dry mix

6-12 months

Pudding mixes

12 months

Rice, brown or white

12 months

Rice, flavored mixes

6 months

Salad dressing

10-12 months

Sauce, gravy mixes

6-12 months

Shortening, solid

8 months

Soup, canned

12 months

Soup, dried mix

12 months

Spices & herbs, whole

1-2 years

Spices & herbs, ground

6 months

Sugar, brown

4 months

Sugar, confectioners

18 months

Sugar, granulated

2 years

Sweeteners, artificial

2 years

Tea, bags

18 months

Tea, instant

3 years

Toaster pastries

2-3 months

Vanilla, unopened

2 years

Vanilla, opened

12 months

Vegetables, canned

12 months

Vegetables, dried

12 months

Whipped topping, dried

12 months

Yeast, dry

Expiration on package