- Good Housekeeping Institute has revealed the expiry days for frozen food
- Ice cream only lasts for up to four months in the freezer
- Frozen veg only keeps for up to four months unless it has been blanched first
We’ve all been guilty of leaving food in our freezers for too long, but there is actually a much shorter expiry date on your frozen leftovers than you may realise.
Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) has revealed how long different foods really last in the freezer – and it’s not as long as you might think.
Some foods last only a couple of months in the freezer and should be thrown away after this date as they will start to deteriorate.
And the guide reveals that most foods don’t last longer than six months in the ice box.
Unblanched vegetables only last three to four months in the freezer, but once blanched, they last 10 to 12 months according to the Good Housekeeping Institute
The GHI guide reveals how long foods of all types last in the freezer, from bacon and ice-cream to bread dough and meat.
It could help you clear out your freezer in the run-up to Christmas when the extra storage space is required.
It’s hard to remember precisely when you may have put many foods in the freezer though, so to avoid food waste, it’s best to label items you put in your ice box with a dated sticker.
That way you can tell when it’s time to use it or lose it.
Fish and fruit expiry dates vary, but shellfish only keeps for two to three months while fruit in syrup will last up to a year
Your frozen veg should only stay in your freezer for up to four months unless they have been blanched first
Meat tends to keep for up to six months but bacon and cured meats have shorter expiry dates. Ice cream only lasts for three to four months – if you can stop yourself from eating it before then