How long do frozen vegetables last?

Store-bought frozen vegetables keep their best quality for 10 to 18 months in the freezer, from purchase. Kept frozen at −18 °C (0 °F), they stay safe; after that, taste and texture slowly decline. Once cooked, they keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

Food	Fridge	Freezer
Frozen vegetablesFridge time is after cooking. Keep frozen; cook as directed.	3–4 days	10–18 monthsfrom purchase

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if frozen vegetables have gone bad

Freezer burn: dry, pale or grayish patches and ice crystals. Safe, but dry and bland; cut it off or use the vegetables in soup.
A solid block of vegetables means they partly thawed and refroze: the texture will suffer.
An off smell or slime after cooking, or mold, which only happens if they've thawed: throw them out.

How to store frozen vegetables

Keep your freezer at −18 °C (0 °F) or colder and get frozen food home and into it quickly.
Reseal opened bags tightly, pressing out the air, or move the vegetables to a freezer container.
Use older bags first: write the opening date on them.
Cook frozen vegetables as directed on the package; most are meant to be cooked, not eaten raw or just thawed.

Can you refreeze frozen vegetables?

Vegetables that thawed in the fridge and still have ice crystals can be refrozen, although they'll be softer. Ones that thawed at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be cooked or thrown out. Cooked vegetables can be frozen again.

Questions

Do frozen vegetables expire?

Kept frozen, they stay safe indefinitely; the 10 to 18 months are for best quality. After that they may be drier and less tasty.

Should frozen vegetables be cooked?

Yes. Health agencies have linked some outbreaks of listeria to frozen vegetables eaten uncooked, for example in smoothies or salads. Cook them as directed on the package.

How long do cooked frozen vegetables last?

3 to 4 days in the fridge, like other cooked vegetables.

Add frozen food to ShelfLife, and know what's at the bottom of the freezer before buying more.

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