How Long Can You Keep Chicken in the Freezer?

A whole chicken can be stored in the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for up to a year according the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chicken parts are safe to keep in the freezer for up to 9 months, and ground chicken should be discarded after freezing for 3 to 4 months.

Preventing freezer burn is usually as simple as wrapping chicken in aluminum foil or plastic wrap or placing it in an airtight plastic freezer bag. Long-term storage usually involves using two layers of wrapping to give it more protection. Since chicken should never be refrozen, it's best to separate chicken parts into meal-size portions before wrapping and freezing them.