DecodedGuides

How to store sherbet, sorbet

Best place: the freezer. USDA lists sherbet, sorbet with a freezer time of 9 months; keep it cold and use it promptly.

Pantry

No guideline

Fridge

Not recommended

from purchase

Not recommended to refrigerate after cooking due to decreased quality.

Freezer

9 months

best quality within

USDA notes for sherbet, sorbet

  • Not recommended to refrigerate after cooking due to decreased quality.

How to tell sherbet, sorbet has gone bad

General signs for food purchased frozen, the group USDA lists sherbet, sorbet under.

  • Greyish-brown, dry patches on the surface (freezer burn)
  • Heavy frost or ice crystals built up inside the package
  • Package that feels soft or has clearly thawed and refrozen
  • Off smell as soon as the food starts to thaw
  • Freezer odour that has soaked into the food itself

More on food purchased frozen. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Keep the freezer at 0 F (-18 C) or colder, and push older items to the front so they get used first. Wrap or repackage anything with damaged packaging to limit air exposure. Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter, and cook or use thawed food within a day or two.

How to store other food purchased frozen

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.