How long will meat (and other items) stay in the freezer?

[Castle On A Cloud]

We are getting a deep freezer, and are considering purchasing a cow share. And if not, just large amounts of meat at one time... My question is how long will it last in the deep freezer? Does it being packaged like it is from the butcher (wrapped in plastic and butcher paper) or it being vacuum sealed matter at all? What about whole fresh chickens? And how about other things... Like wheat berries, ground flour, stock....etc;)

[Castle On A Cloud]

:bump

[Castle On A Cloud]

:bump

[mommylove]

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp

chart at the bottom.

[Naomi]

We get a half a cow almost every year, but have had beef stay usuable for up to 2 years.

[Amber]

It depends on how well wrapped it is. I've had stuff stay good for over a year. Right now we are finishing off a 1/4 beef that we bought about a year ago. Some of the ground beef got a touch of freezer burn but it is still usable.

[Castle On A Cloud]

Awesome, what we just found out is that we can get a smaller amount at a time, and it will all be vacuum packed, so that should help:)