Frozen Food

If the freezer is cold enough (-18C) and there are no power cuts, it doesn't matter how long food is frowzen from a safety point of view. But the texture and flavour may suffer, so label and date goods and use within these time periods.

• Cakes: 6 months (iced ones loose quality after 2 months)
• Bread: 4 weeks
• Uncooked pastry: 3 months
• Cooked fruit pies: 6 months
• Meat pies: 3 months
• Sauces, soups & stocks: 3 months
• Beef: joints (8 months); steaks, mince & cubed meat (3 months)
• Poultry: whole (1 year); pieces (3 to 6 months)
• Pork: 6 months
• Lamb: joints (6 months); cutlets (3 months)
• Sausages: 1 to 3 months
• Fish: 6 months
• Fresh vegetables: whole or sliced, blanched first (1 year - except for cauliflower - 6 months)
• Fresh fruit: whole or sliced (1 year); purees (6 to 8 months); juice (4 to 6 months)

 Good Housekeeping August 2013

Fresh vegetables don't need to be blanched if storing for less than 3 months. [Unknown source.]