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How Long Does Meat Last in the Freezer?
Mar 5, 2025
That freezer-burned shank or old package of ground venison is probably still edible. Here’s how to tell
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If you’re wondering “how long does meat last in the freezer?” odds are you recently unearthed a lonely package of venison burger from 2022, or those wild turkey legs from 2021 that you had the best intentions of slow-cooking. The thought of cooking and eating freezer-burned or years-old meat might sound unappetizing or even dangerous, but that’s not necessarily the case.
We talked to RealTree Timber to Table wild game chef and hunter Michael Pendley and collected guidance from the USDA and U.S. Department of Health to get firm answers for how long meat actually lasts in the freezer, how to spot signs that a package of meat is past its prime, and the best ways to prepare meat that’s still salvageable.
How Long Can Frozen Meat Last?
So, how long does meat last in the freezer? A year? Two? Three? Truthfully, there’s no one magic number. The answer depends on how you packaged the meat, what kind of freezer you’re storing it in, and whether the meat has stayed deep-frozen the whole time. Did it get transported and partially defrost at some point? These factors all make a difference. When in doubt, if the meat smells or looks spoiled or rotten, don’t risk it.
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