11 Things in Your Freezer You Should Toss Out
Updated: Jan. 08, 2024
Wondering how long frozen vegetables last in the freezer? When in doubt, throw it out—plus these other common freezer foods.
Freezer-Burned Veggies
How long do frozen vegetables last in the freezer? If it has chunks of ice with it, then it’s probably time to toss it. Frozen veggies can be kept in the freezer for about three months or shorter if you notice freezer burn.
Check out our complete guide to how long food lasts in the freezer.
Smelly Ice Cubes
There’s nothing refreshing about taking a big gulp of ice water and tasting the garlic you put in the freezer last week. Once ice cubes have taken on an unpleasant scent, there’s no getting rid of it.
Forgotten Freezer Meals
Look at you with your stash of healthy freezer meals! It’s great to plan ahead, but don’t get overambitious with your meal prep. Freezer meals should be eaten within three months. Keep track of all your hard work with freezer-safe food labels and try a first-in, first-out approach.
Stale Coffee Beans
Storing ground coffee in the freezer can preserve freshness, but be mindful of how long those beans have been sitting there. Coffee beans absorb moisture, plus different tastes and smells around them, so make sure to use them within three months.
Thawed Meat
We love keeping a supply of chicken freezer meals on hand for busy weeknights. Once meat like chicken begins to thaw, though, throw it out to avoid salmonella and other bacteria. So, if you started defrosting it and then changed your mind, don’t refreeze it.
Freezer-Burned Meat
Given enough time, freezer burn will render your meat dry and tasteless. If you notice small ice crystals in the packaging or can’t remember how long the meat has been in the freezer, it’s time for it to go. You can prevent freezer burn by tightly sealing your meat before freezing.
Old Deli Meat
Deli meat is one of those items that is very convenient to have on hand, but it spoils quickly. The good news is that you can definitely freeze deli meat. Even with proper preparation, however, it can only last up to two months in the freezer. After that, even if it’s safe to eat, it won’t taste very good. Like other meats, deli meat should be tightly sealed and wrapped before it’s frozen.
Pastries with Creamy Filling
Once you’ve gone to the trouble of making a heavenly cheese Danish from scratch, the last thing you want to do is throw away the leftovers. Pastries and other treats with cheese or creamy filling don’t keep well in the freezer; toss them after a month. Or just eat them to avoid this problem altogether!
Unrecognizable Leftovers
We love finding creative ways to repurpose leftovers; they just won’t last in the freezer forever. Most leftover dishes will keep for two to six months in the freezer. If they’ve been sitting for a while and you can’t remember what the food was in the first place, pitch it and start over.
Old Ice Cream
Most of us don’t have the problem of ice cream lasting too long, but if you happen to have more self-control, you may find yourself in this predicament. If your tub of ice cream is older than three to four months, it’s time for it to go. So grab a bowl and a spoon before time is up!
Freezer-Burned Bread
If you have more fresh bread than you know what to do with and don’t want it to go stale before enjoying it, popping it in the freezer is a great idea. But bread only lasts in the freezer for about six months. If you find a loaf in the back of the freezer that’s been there for who knows how long, then it needs to go.
To keep bread fresh as long as possible, wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, then in a layer of foil or freezer paper. And slice your bread before freezing, so you only have to remove what you need.
