How long can you store meat in a freezer before consumption?

Thank you for your frozen food question. All foods can be safely frozen, but some foods should not be frozen for quality reasons. Frozen food stored consistently at -18°C or lower will remain safe indefinitely. Most domestic freezers operate at temperatures of -18°C or lower. As a general rule, if your freezer can't keep ice cream solid, its temperature is above the recommended level.

As for how long you can store items: Always refer to the on-pack 'best before' date. The manufacturer's 'best before' date on frozen foods is a quality indicator and is the date until which the product will remain of peak quality (when stored at -18°C or below). For storage in a 3-star or 4-star freezer manufacturers will normally recommend 'store until best before date'. After the 'best before' date a reduction in eating quality may become evident, whilst the product remains safe to eat.

How long your meat lasts also depends on how well you package it. Frozen meat from shops is well sealed and air tight and so bought frozen meat can last longer. Your oven frozen meat should last if it was bought as frozen in the shops because: Pre-packaged frozen foods and frozen ready meals are expertly packaged and so they last longer in the freezer as a result. Frozen ready meals often have the air flushed out of them to create a vacuum and this helps them to last longer too. Frozen ready meals are completely air tight and so the moisture can not escape which sometimes happens with home freezing. Frozen ready meals are less prone to freezer burn.

If you are home freezing ensure you freeze your food in appropriate containers, for example, freezer bags and airtight containers. Most foods obey the rule 'the colder the better'. As a guide here are some suggested MAXIMUM storage times in months at -18°C for a variety of foods.*

Frozen Raw meat and meat Products
Frozen Beef joints, Steaks – 12
Frozen Beef mince – 10
Frozen Lamb joints, chops – 10
Frozen Pork joints, chops – 6
Frozen Sausages – 6
Frozen Bacon – 2-4
Frozen Poultry – 12

• Click here to read more about storing frozen foods
• Click here for more information on frozen meat
• Click here to see where your frozen food comes from

* Consumer guide to frozen foods published as part of  the European Union FAIR Programme, Concerted Action CT96 - 1189 "Maintaining  the Quality and Safety of Frozen Foods Throughout the Distribution Chain"

The New Ice Age Team