Frozen food safety- misconceptions

Apricot

I have frozen all of the things you've listed for up to 3 months and never ever had a problem. I think Sainsbugs are just being overcautious here.

daska

Could you put the money aside and book a delivery for when you return in December - you could then pack everything straight into the freezer.

I'm not going to get into the discussion about overcautious labelling

shopndrop

I have frozen bought food which says use within 1 month, for more than a month and had no problems.

DCFC79

I think sainsburys are just covering tehmselves when they say freeze and use within 1 month, we freeze sausages and bacon for over a month and not had any problems

Happi

Food can be frozen for years.. shops say a month so you buy more often!

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/keepingfoodsafe/storing/#cat507058

chalkysoil

I'm veggie but my husband often eats rtc stuff that he'd frozen when we got home and then forgotten about for months. No ill effects yet. Maybe it loses a bit of it's loveliness? Even bread seems ok to us months later.

olly300

Most freezer have icons on them with numbers above/below them indicating the timespan you can freeze things for. I would go by this instead of the supermarket.

You can keep things longer than that but then they don't taste as good.

forgotmyname

If you bought a fresh chicken & froze it as soon as you got home,
How long would you leave it in the freezer for and still eat it without a 2nd thought?

When i see the BOGOF chickens i do have a think, Will it be OK in the freezer for 1 month
6 months, A year even?

I have read that tinned food can be eaten years after the use by date providing the tin is still airtight.

bees**knees

I dont think it is an issue of safety as much as changes in the flavour if food is left frozen a long time.
Also if not wrapped tightly or if packaging becomes damaged you get freezer burn which doesn't look good and can affect taste and texture.
Avoid freezing spicy food too as flavours seem to change over time too IMHO
You should be fine freezing things now for Xmas. If you wrap them well and follow the rules for cooking frozen food your guests should have great Xmas food.

hermum

I eat frozen stuff, months if not years after I dig to the bottom of my freezer.