How long does ground beef last?

Checked 24 Oct 20268 official publishers, 9 sources

Raw: 1-2 days in the fridge and 3-4 months in the freezer for best quality.

Storage times for ground beef by state and place
StateCounter / pantryFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Raw 2 hours max CDC 1-2 days safety FDA FoodKeeper Extension Extension Sources disagree: 3-5 days Extension 3-4 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension FDA Extension Sources disagree: 1 year Extension
Cooked 2 hours max CDC 3-4 days safety FDA 2-3 months best quality FDA Extension
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateCounter / pantryFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Raw-1-2 days3-4 months
Nebraska ExtensionRawNot recommended1-2 days3-4 months
FDA 2018Raw-1-2 days3-4 months
Utah State University ExtensionRaw-1-2 days-
University of Illinois ExtensionRaw--3-4 months
University of Wisconsin-Madison ExtensionRaw-3-5 days1 year
CDC 2025Raw2 hours--
FDA 2018Cooked-3-4 days2-3 months
University of Illinois ExtensionCooked--2-3 months
CDC 2025Cooked2 hours--

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Use freezer containers to freeze and store smaller portions of ground beef, stew beef, or other meats.” Extension
  • “Even small amounts of frozen food ... such as a pound of ground meat or boneless chicken breasts ... require a full day to thaw.” Extension
  • “Ground Meat (uncooked) Overwrap if storing longer than 2 months.” Extension
  • “Thaw during the cooking process, such as frozen hamburger patties on the grill” Extension
  • “Ground meats, such as beef and pork 160°F” CDC

What the sources say

Raw ground beef keeps in the fridge for less time than steaks, chops or roasts: FoodKeeper, the FDA storage chart and the Nebraska Extension chart all give 1 to 2 days.132

The FDA chart groups it with hamburger and stew meats, and the Nebraska chart with ground turkey, veal, pork and lamb.32

For the freezer the three sources agree on 3 to 4 months, which the FDA and Nebraska charts both describe as a quality time.132

Once cooked, ground beef falls under cooked meat and meat dishes in the FDA chart: 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer.3

Nebraska Extension marks raw ground meat as not safe at room temperature.2

Plan ahead for thawing: the National Center for Home Food Preservation says even a pound of ground meat needs a full day to thaw in the refrigerator.8

University of Illinois Extension suggests freezing it in smaller portions in freezer containers.5

Utah State University Extension lists 1 to 2 days for ground beef in its original package in the refrigerator, the same window as the other charts.4132

A University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension sheet on food product dating gives a longer window: cook or freeze hamburger within 3 to 5 days of receiving it, and it says meat can be frozen for up to 1 year without harming quality.632

The University of Illinois Extension recommends no more than 3 to 4 months for frozen raw ground meats and 2 to 3 months for cooked meats, for best quality.5

Illinois also advises overwrapping uncooked ground meat that will be frozen longer than 2 months.5

Frozen hamburger patties can thaw during cooking on the grill, which University of Illinois Extension lists among the safe ways to thaw.9

CDC lists 160 °F as the safe internal temperature for ground meats such as beef.7

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour ruleFreezing and refreezingThawing safelyFridge and freezer temperature
Raw chickenCooked chickenBacon

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 43: Beef, ground. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Beef, ground. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Days; DOP_Freeze: 3-4 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Ground beef, turkey, veal, pork or lamb, stew meat Not safe 1 to 2 days 3 to 4 months
  3. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Hamburger & stew meats 1 - 2 days 3 - 4 monthsCooked meat & meat dishes 3 - 4 days 2 - 3 months
  4. Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Beef ground original package 38-40°F refrigerator 1-2 days
  5. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. For best quality, store frozen raw ground meats no more than 3 to 4 months; cooked meats, 2 to 3 months.Use freezer containers to freeze and store smaller portions of ground beef, stew beef, or other meats.Ground Meat (uncooked) Overwrap if storing longer than 2 months.
  6. Safe and Healthy: Food Product Dating. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Meat (hamburger, chicken) Once you receive meat, cook or freeze within 3-5 days. Meat can be frozen for up to 1 year without harming quality.
  7. Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).Ground meats, such as beef and pork 160°F
  8. Thawing and Preparing Foods for Serving - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Even small amounts of frozen food ... such as a pound of ground meat or boneless chicken breasts ... require a full day to thaw.
  9. Leftovers | Food | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Thaw during the cooking process, such as frozen hamburger patties on the grill