With grocery prices at an all-time high, save money by buying in bulk, or stock up with supermarket specials, then freeze the items that you won't be using right away.
Wrap completely-cooled food in heavy-duty plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and place in zip-top freezer bags or air-tight containers to preserve the texture and flavor.
Here's our guide to how long you can store a variety of foods in the freezer and maintain quality.
Meats
Bacon, raw = 1 month
Sausage, raw = 1-2 months
Ham, fully cooked = 1-2 months
Luncheon meats, unopened = 1-2 months
Cooked meats, casseroles = 2-3 months
Cooked soups/stews = 2-3 months
Ground beef, veal, lamb, pork = 3-4 months
Chops = 4- 6 months
Roasts = 4-12 months
Steaks = 6-12 months
Poultry
Ground chicken, turkey = 3-4 months
Cooked, plain = 4 months
Cooked poultry, casseroles = 4-6 months
Cooked, covered with broth, gravy = 6 months
Chicken or turkey, pieces = 9 months
Chicken or turkey, whole = 12 months
Fish and Shellfish
Fish, fatty = 2-3 months
Live clams, crab, lobster, mussels, oysters = 2-3 months
Shellfish, cooked = 3 months
Shrimp, scallops, shucked clams, mussels, oysters = 3-6 months
Fish, cooked = 4-6 months
Fish, lean = 6 months
Dairy
Yogurt = 1-2 months
Ice Cream = 2 months
Buttermilk = 3 months
Milk = 3 months
Cream, half-and-half = 4 months
Cheese, hard, unopened = 6 months
Cheese, soft, unopened = 6 months
Butter = 6-9 months
Fruit and Vegetables
Vegetables, purchased frozen = 8 months
Juices, unopened = 8-12 months
Fruit juice concentrates = 12 months
Vegetables, home-frozen = 10 months
Breads and Desserts
Pie, baked =1-2 months
Cake, angel food, chiffon, sponge = 2 months
Cheesecake = 2-3 months
Quick bread, baked = 2-3 months
Yeast bread and rolls = 3-6 months
Cake, yellow or pound = 6 months
Cookies, baked = 8-12 months
For more information on storing food in the freezer, see these articles from Cooking Light:
• Homemade Baby Food Storage
• Spring Clean Your Frig