Make the most of your freezer

Published 8:18 pm Monday, May 11, 2009

As long as it’s cold enough, your freezer is the ideal environment for long-term food preservation.

It should be cold enough to keep a pint of ice cream brick-solid.

Everything should be tightly wrapped or placed in a tightly sealed container to prevent freezer burn.

Shelf life

Ground meat: Use within three months.

Pork: Use within six months.

Beef: Use within eight months.

Lamb: Use within eight months.

Veal: Use within eight months

Poultry, whole: Use within four months.

Poultry, cut-up pieces: Use within six months.

Bacon: Use within two months.

Home-cooked foods: Use within one month.

Shrimp: Because most shrimp are previously frozen, they can be acceptably frozen for up to two weeks, but it’s best to buy still- frozen shrimp rather than the display shrimp that have already thawed.

Associated Press