Where the freezer buys most

• Turkey180 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 12 months)
• Squid180 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (3 days to 18 months)
• Shrimp, crayfish180 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (3 days to 18 months)
• Scallops180 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (3 days to 18 months)
• Chicken180 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 12 months)
• Turkey parts135 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 9 months)
• Stuffed, raw chicken breasts135 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (2 days to 9 months)
• Stuffed, raw pork chops135 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 9 months)
• Rabbit, whole, fresh135 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (2 days to 9 months)
• Chicken parts135 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 9 months)
• Strawberries120 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (3 days to 12 months)
• Okra120 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (3 days to 12 months)
• Lean fish120 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 8 months)
• Corn on the cob120 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 8 months)
• Bok choy120 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (3 days to 12 months)
• Watermelon90 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (4 days to 12 months)
• Greens90 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (4 days to 12 months)
• Duckling, domestic or wild, whole90 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 6 months)
• Crab legs, king, dungeness, snow90 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (4 days to 12 months)
• Cherimoya90 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (4 days to 12 months)
• Venison, round, rump, loin, or rib roast72 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (5 days to 12 months)
• Brussels sprouts72 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (5 days to 12 months)
• Broccoli and broccoli raab (rapini)72 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (5 days to 12 months)
• Variety meats, liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.60 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 4 months)
• Raw kabobs with vegetables60 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 4 months)
• Ground turkey or chicken60 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 4 months)
• Carrot juice, fresh squeezed60 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (6 days to 12 months)
• Beef60 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 4 months)
• Apple juice, fresh squeezed60 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (6 days to 12 months)
• Mushrooms51 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (7 days to 12 months)
• Kohlrabi51 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (1 week to 12 months)
• Honeydew51 times longer frozenthan the sealed pantry (7 days to 12 months)
• Beans and peas, green, fava, lima, soybean, wax, snow, sugar snap48 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (5 days to 8 months)
• Macaroons, french45 times longer frozenthan the pantry (2 days to 3 months)
• Live clams, mussels, crab, and oysters45 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 3 months)
• Fatty fish, bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.45 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 3 months)
• Cooked poultry dishes45 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (4 days to 6 months)
• Bagel45 times longer frozenthan the pantry (2 days to 3 months)
• Zucchini, fresh, whole43 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (1 week to 10 months)
• Parsley, fresh40 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (3 days to 4 months)
• Crab meat40 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (3 days to 4 months)
• Hot peppers39 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (1 week to 9 months)
• Asparagus38 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (4 days to 5 months)
• Orange juice36 times longer frozenthan the opened fridge (10 days to 12 months)
• Eggnog, commercial36 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (5 days to 6 months)
• Papaya, mango, feijoa, passionfruit, casaha melon34 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (1 week to 8 months)
• Fruit pies, apple, peach, blueberry, apricot, cherry, blackberry34 times longer frozenthan the opened fridge (1 week to 8 months)
• Eggplant34 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (7 days to 8 months)
• Whipped topping30 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 weeks to 14 months)
• Sausage30 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 2 months)
• Rotisserie chicken30 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (4 days to 4 months)
• Pate30 times longer frozenthan the sealed fridge (2 days to 2 months)
• Guacamole30 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (4 days to 4 months)
• Fried chicken30 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (4 days to 4 months)
• Fresh pasta30 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (2 days to 2 months)
• Dairy filled eclairs30 times longer frozenthan the opened fridge (3 days to 3 months)
• Cooked rice30 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (6 days to 6 months)
• Cinnamon rolls30 times longer frozenthan the pantry (3 days to 3 months)
• Chorizo30 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (2 days to 2 months)
• Bratwurst30 times longer frozenthan the refrigerator (3 days to 3 months)

How this list is built

Of the 150 foods here where the USDA publishes both a freezer figure and at least one figure outside the freezer, these 60 gain the most from freezing. Each multiplier divides the freezer figure by the longest window that food has without a freezer, so the gain is measured against the best you could do otherwise and not against the worst. The division is ours: the source prints the ranges and never divides one by another.

KeepsUntil is an independent reference built on public USDA data. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration. Whether a given window is a safety limit or a quality window is stated on the page that prints it.