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" Ever wonder just how long foods can last in the freezer? And if there are foods that are better off not being frozen? We&amp;#039;ve found the answers to these questions\u2014and more\u2014with the help of Julie Garden Robinson, food and nutrition specialist at North Dakota State University, and Elizabeth L. Andress, PhD, professor of foods and nutrition at the University of Georgia. Follow our guide below to learn what you can freeze, the best way to package it and how long to keep it. Unless otherwise directed, it&amp;#039;s best to thaw frozen items by placing them in the refrigerator until they reach a malleable consistency.   What Foods Can&amp;#039;t Be Frozen? Food with a high water content (such as lettuce, cucumber, celery) becomes limp and watery.Mayonnaise and dressings with egg tend to separate.Fresh garlic turns bitter-tasting.   Meats and Seafood: Trim excess fat and remove bones if needed, divide into portion-size pieces, place a double layer of freezer wrap between pieces and store in an airtight container or ziptop freezer bag. Seal, making sure there is no air in the container or bag. These instructions pertain to raw meats.      Food Type      Storing Tips    Optimal Freeze Time      Chicken     For higher quality, it&amp;#039;s best to freeze the chicken whole instead of in pieces. If freezing in pieces, follow the guide above for storing meats.     1 year      Beef        1 year      Sausages        1-2 months      Pork        3-4 months      Lamb/Veal        6-9 months      Bacon/Hot Dogs        1 month      Fish      Wash, wrap with clingy plastic wrap and then layer with freezer wrap, squeezing out as much air as possible.     Fatty fish: 3 months Lean fish: 6 months Shellfish: 3 months    Fruits and Vegetables:  When using frozen vegetables, it&amp;#039;s best to cook them without thawing first. Unless otherwise indicated, fruits and vegetables stored in an airtight container or bag will keep frozen well for 8 to 12 months. If you want to use small amounts at a time instead of thawing everything at once, keep slices separated by using the tray pack method: Freeze slices first by arranging them in a single layer on a tray, then pour into a container or bag and return to the freezer.      Food Type      Storing Tips    Optimal Freeze Time      Asparagus      Wash, dry and cut into 2-in. lengths. Blanch for 2-4 minutes, depending on size.    8 months      Potatoes      Wash, peel and cut into \u00BD-in. cubes or slices before blanching, or mash. Fresher potatoes freeze better. They may darken and change texture if included in frozen soups and stews.    10-12 months      Carrots      Peel, cut into strips, cubes or slices; blanch for 2 minutes.    8-12 months      Tomatoes      Scald for 2 minutes to loosen skin, then peel and core. Cut into pieces, put into freezer container and press down with wooden spoon to release juice to cover.    8-12 months      Corn on the Cob      Husk ears, remove silk and wash. Blanch for 7 minutes if a small cob, 11 if large.     8-12 months      Onions      Peel, wash and chop. Freeze using the tray pack method.     2-3 months      Peppers      Wash, cut off stems and remove seeds. Then cut into rings, dice or slice before storing in any freezer container.    8-12 months      Bananas      Peel, mash and add 1 tsp of lemon juice per cup of mashed banana to prevent discoloration. Pack by leaving head space in the container.     8-12 months      Lemons      Wash and peel. Slice, then freeze using the tray method.    4-6 months      Avocado      Mash into a pur\u00E9e, and add lemon juice to prevent discoloration.    8-12 months      Apples      Wash, peel and core. Slice into twelfths or sixteenths, since for higher quality, frozen apples should be used for cooking purposes. Add lemon juice to prevent discoloration.    8-12 months      Spinach      Wash and remove tough stems. Blanch for 2 minutes.     8-12 months      Squash      Remove seeds, cut into \u00BD-in. slices, then cook until tender.    8-12 months      Strawberries      Slice the large ones, remove hulls.    8-12 months      Pineapple      Pare, remove core and eyes, then slice, dice, crush or cut into wedges or slices.    8-12 months      Mushrooms      Wash and trim the ends (those more than 1-in. should be sliced). Steam or saut\u00E9 in butter until tender.    8-12 months    Dairy and Eggs:       Food Type      Storing Tips    Optimal Freeze Time      Eggs     Mix yolks and whites together, then store in any container, leaving head space. Otherwise, freeze in ice trays. 3 Tbsp mixture amounts to one egg.     12 months      Milk     Freeze in any container or in ice trays. Stir or shake after thawing to restore smoothness for all percentages, even low and nonfat.    1-3 months      Cheese     Freeze hard or semi-hard cheeses in small pieces and wrap in foil, freezer wrap, plastic wrap or bag.    3 months      Yogurt &amp;amp;amp; Sour Cream     Plain yogurt may lose its smooth texture when frozen; however, it can still be used for cooking.    Plain: 1 month Flavored: 5 months      Butter     Keep in its original packaging and wrap with freezer paper to prevent odor absorption.    12 months      Cream     Freeze only heavy cream with 40% or more butter fat; tray-freeze in mounds.    2 months    Breads:       Food Type      Storing Tips    Optimal Freeze Time      Bread     Store in any airtight container.    2-3 months      Granola     Store in any airtight container.    6-8 months      Fresh Pasta     Place in ziptop bags.    3 months      Cookies     Freeze in layers with freezer paper in between so that the cookies don&amp;#039;t stick to each other.    6 months    Sauces and Liquids:       Food Type      Storing Tips    Optimal Freeze Time      Hummus     Store in any airtight container.    2-3 months      Pesto     Freeze in ice trays first and then place in ziptop bags once frozen.    3 months      Coleslaw     Should only be frozen if vinegar-based. Can be frozen in any container with head space.    3-4 months      Soups     Best to freeze soups that don&amp;#039;t contain potatoes, and have as little liquid as possible. Freeze in any container but leave head space. Otherwise, freeze in ice cube trays, then store cubes in plastic bags after frozen. Heat without thawing first.    4-6 months      Juice     Place in rigid containers and leave head space.    4-6 months    Miscellaneous:       Food Type      Storing Tips    Optimal Freeze Time      Chocolate/Candy     Can be frozen in its own packaging, but thaw at room temperature.    12 months      Herbs      Place in airtight freezer bags, or put chopped herbs in an ice-cube tray and top with water. Once frozen, put into plastic bags.    3 months      Nuts      Freeze in layers with freezer paper in between so that they don&amp;#039;t stick to each other.    3 months      Tofu     Can be frozen within a week of purchase. Drain all water, then wrap the tofu in plastic, foil or freezer wrap.    5 months     "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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