How Long Can You Store Meat And Fish In The Freezer? | .uk

Cooking: How long meat can be frozen is revealed 1769444766hagp5cPn

Delicious and nutritious, meat and fish are a key component to most families' meals. The only downside is they tend to go off in less than a week. There is a way to extend this though. If you freeze your meat or fish in the freezer, it can last much longer. How long can you store meat and fish in the freezer?

How long can you store fish and meat in the freezer?

Freezing fish and meat is a real money-saver.Surprisingly, frozen meat or fish that is kept at a temperature of minus 18C (0F) or lower will be safe to eat for a good few months.Microorganisms and microbes like bacteria, yeast, and mould cannot grow at this temperature.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE- Can you freeze ham?

Can you freeze fish? What about meat? (Image: Getty)

Freezing meat and fish could be a lifesafer during lockdown in the UK (Image: Getty )

• Can you freeze lettuce?

However, that doesn't mean you want to eat years old meat from the freezer.This is definitely not advisable and it will be - by most people's standards- unenjoyable or inedible.The longer you leave it in the freezer, the lower the quality of meat.Meat can become freezer burnt, meaning the surface becomes dehydrated.Signs of freezer burn include dryness, white patches of ice crystals, and discolouring.

It's important to defrost your meat by leavin git in the fridge rather than on the counter (Image: Getty)

How long does frozen meat and fish keep for?

Wrap meat packaging in airtight plastic wrap or freezer paper if you want to extend its life. 

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

If you do this, it should keep for for longer than two months.You can do the same with fish, too.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

DON'T MISS Can you freeze pumpkin?  [INSIGHT]Can you freeze yeast? [INFORMER]Can you freeze pizza dough? [INFORMER]

• Can you freeze ham?
• Can you freeze yeast?

• UK cold weather forecast: Icy blast to hit Britain with -10C freeze

The general life-span of meat in the freezer is:

• Whole chickens and turkeys - a year
• Chicken breast, thighs, or wings- nine months
• Giblets- three months
• Beef, veal and lamb steak- six to 12 months
• Beef, veal and lamb chops- four to 6 months
• Roast beef, veal and lamb- four to 12 months
• Uncooked pork chops- four to six months
• Uncooked roast pork- four to 12 months
• Processed pork- one to two months
• Ground meat- three to four months
• Hamburger meat- three to four months
• Cooked and leftover fish meats- four to six months
• Cooked and leftover meat- two to three months

Whole chickens and turkeys can last a staggering 12 months in the freezer (Image: Getty)

The general life-span of fish in the freezer is:

• Lean fish (e.g. bass, cod, and tuna)- six to eight months
• Fatty fish (e.g. anchovies, mackerel, salmon, sardines)- two to free months
• Fresh seafood (e.g. shrimps, scallops, crawfish, squid)- three to six months

How to defrost meat and fish from the freezer

Some 54 percent of Brits (wrongly) defrost meat and fish at room temperature.Don't do this, as it will cause bacteria to grow in the meat and no one wants that.

Recipe inspiration for the whole family plus selected offers and competitions Subscribe Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Get More of Our News on Google

Set Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

You need to keep the meat or fish refrigerated as it defrosts to avoid it.

Leave it overnight in the fridge and it will be ready to cook with the following day.

How to Fishing Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments Most Read Most Commented Latest videos BBC announces The Traitors favourite will lead 'exciting' new series BBC Call the Midwife 'break' announced as fears grow for fan favourite Barack Obama confirms that aliens are real as he sheds light on truth of Area 51 Netflix to remove 'best series on TV' as fans have just weeks to go Brits held for 400 days in Iranian jail subjected to mock executions and starvation Supermarket ice cream named as good as Magnum in UK — £1.10 cheaper Supermarket own-brand frozen Yorkshire puddings named best in the UK beating Aunt Bessie’s I made salmon in the pan, oven and air fryer — one was juicier and cooked faster I dried my clothes inside in 2.5 hours with laundry method that mimics a warm breezy day I ate at restaurant loved by Dua Lipa and had the best meal ever — the price shocked me Fish pie will be easier if you swap mashed potatoes for one-minute ingredient Mary Berry says pancakes will taste ‘extra special’ with 1 added ingredient Carrots will turn out 'amazing' with very simple trick - and it's not honey-glazing them Steak will be juicy and tender even when frozen if you ditch pan frying Cut high cholesterol in 'two days' with 8p food BBC doctor recommends Anyone buying tomatoes in UK supermarkets urged to look out for 1 thing Anyone buying onions in UK supermarkets urged to look out for 1 thing Households with an air fryer urged to do one important thing When is Pancake Day 2026 and the forgotten food tradition the day before Roast potatoes will be crispier with one extra ingredient that gives an 'instant upgrade' Eggs will be poached in 2 minutes with simple hack but not everyone is impressed I paid £20 for pasta at Ed Sheeran's restaurant — three words sum it up Blueberries can stay fresh for up to three weeks without going mushy if stored with item I made traditional Scottish shortbread and Mary Berry’s version – one melts in the mouth Households urged to remove avocados from fruit bowls UK households asked to keep potatoes far away from other vegetables Jacket potatoes will be extra crispy and full of flavour with one extra ingredient

Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated

Keep me updated No thanks