How long does ice cream last?

Checked 25 Oct 20266 official publishers, 7 sources

Ice cream: 30 days in the freezer for best quality and keeping it in the pantry is not recommended.

Official stance

“Don't add raw homemade cookie dough ... Cookie dough ice cream sold in stores contains dough that has been treated to kill harmful germs.” CDC

“Avoid Choose these instead ... Raw (unpasteurized) milk, yogurt, and ice cream Pasteurized milk, yogurt, and ice cream” CDC

Storage times for ice cream by state and place
StatePantryFreezer 0 °F
Ice cream Not recommended Extension 30 days best quality Extension Sources disagree: 1 month; 2 months; 2-4 months; 6 months ExtensionExtensionExtensionFoodKeeper
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

SourceStatePantryFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Ice cream-6 months
Nebraska ExtensionIce creamNot recommended2-4 months
University of Illinois ExtensionIce cream-2 months
Utah State University ExtensionIce cream-30 days
National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia)Ice cream-1 month

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

Handling and freezing notes

  • “If stored longer than 1 month, it loses volume and the surface becomes waxy and sticky. The flavor may also change.” Extension
  • “If ice cream must be stored longer, over-wrap the container with freezer paper or plastic wrap.” Extension
  • “Homemade ice cream is difficult to store for any length of time because it becomes grainy.” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper gives ice cream a single storage time, 6 months in the freezer from the date of purchase.1

Three extension charts give shorter times: the Nebraska Extension chart gives 2 to 4 months, the University of Illinois Extension 2 months for ice cream and sherbet, and Utah State University Extension 30 days in an air and moisture-proof container at 0 °F.234

Nebraska also marks ice cream as not safe at room temperature and gives no refrigerator time.2

The National Center for Home Food Preservation ties its limit to the packaging, saying store-bought ice cream should be kept no longer than 1 month in its original container because that container is not moisture-vapor resistant.5

Past that month, it says, ice cream loses volume, the surface turns waxy and sticky, and the flavor may change.5

When a carton has to be kept longer, the National Center suggests over-wrapping it with freezer paper or plastic wrap.5

Homemade ice cream is harder to keep, as it becomes grainy, and the National Center notes that commercial producers add extra milk solids or gelatin to prevent this.5

CDC warns against stirring raw homemade cookie dough into ice cream, and points out that cookie dough ice cream sold in stores contains dough treated to kill harmful germs.6

Pasteurized ice cream is on the CDC list of safer choices for people at higher risk of Listeria infection, while ice cream made from raw milk is on its list of foods to avoid.7

Rules that apply here

Freezing and refreezingFridge and freezer temperature
MilkHeavy creamYogurt

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 317: Ice cream. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Ice cream. DOP_Freeze: 6 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Ice cream Not safe - 2 to 4 months
  3. Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Ice Cream and Sherbet 2 months
  4. Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Ice cream air and moisture-proof container 0°F freezer 30 days
  5. Freezing Ice Cream - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-25. Store-bought ice cream should be stored no longer than 1 month in its original container because its container is not moisture-vapor resistant.If stored longer than 1 month, it loses volume and the surface becomes waxy and sticky. The flavor may also change.If ice cream must be stored longer, over-wrap the container with freezer paper or plastic wrap.Homemade ice cream is difficult to store for any length of time because it becomes grainy.
  6. Raw Flour and Dough | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Don't add raw homemade cookie dough ... Cookie dough ice cream sold in stores contains dough that has been treated to kill harmful germs.
  7. Preventing Listeria Infection | Listeria Infection | CDC. CDC. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Avoid Choose these instead ... Raw (unpasteurized) milk, yogurt, and ice cream Pasteurized milk, yogurt, and ice cream
  8. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.