Chuck(G)
25k Member
Meat can last something like 6 months in a freezer if wrapped correctly. I use freezer paper making sure there are no air pockets and then wrap it in aluminum foil. Cheese last long enough if you keep it wrapped correctly in the fridge and not get it moist. Something like provalone will grow mold in a couple weeks if not stored correctly.
Packaging and preservation is everything. I've served wild salmon packaged in water after three years in the freezer. Smoked preserved meat can survive a very long time in the freezer. The USDA guidelines mostly (by the agency's own claims) refer to quality and nutrition, not to safety.