How long does frozen meat keep?

squeaky

Here's a government site on storing meat:-

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

Graham_S_4

I find that things always keep longer than you are told they should - they won't go "bad" in the freezer - but the texture and taste will go funny after a year or so. as Calley said - if it doesn't look right when you deforst it - chuck it.

Bit off topic but - My ex used to work for a big food producing company - she worked on developing sauces in jars etc - you can pretty much ignore best before dates on sealed jars and tins - they will keep for years

Cheers

G

pink_rabbit

If you vacuum packed the beef it should last for a good 6 months+, but if you just put it in a polybag, like I do then the main problem will be gradual dehyration. You can see that happening when it's frozen, the meat will start to loose its red colour and start to look..dried out! You should try and use it before that happens although if it was say casseroled for a couple of hours you probably wouldn't even notice.

I've spent all my life working in the frozen food industry so have a bit of experience!

comping_cat

Best before dates and use by dates tend to be used to cover the manufacturers. If you use something after the date, then there is a problem, they arnt liable. Normally, i find things are fine after these dates (and time recomendations) and i actually saw a programme a few weeks ago saying how as a society we throw a lot of food away that we dont really need to, but because of the dates, we do. They recomended looking at the food, smelling it and even tasting it to see if it is bad or not.
Like calley said, i would defrost it and see what it looks and smells like, and maybe even cook it and see, more than likely it will be fine, but always best to check!!!!

calleyw

I am sure that I read somewhere on these forums that it is legal to sell food stuff if the date is over on Best Before Dates. But on use by dates it is illegal.

If you eat something after the Best Before Date has passed it means that it might not be at it best.

Don't forget that use by dates are normally on fresh items like milk, meat, cream etc. As long as the items is frozen on or before the use by date you should be fine.

Mind you the problem with having a chest freezer you never know what is lurking at the bottom of it.

Yours

Calley

Graham_S_4

My local farm shop sells bottled beer past its sell by date - they have a big sign say - PAST SELL BY DATE - and rather than £1.60 a bottle it is 80p a bottle. perfectly fine too. It is normally only a couple of days past its date too

G

KatieF

I think technically foods shouldn't be sold when they are past their best before date. But when they are sat at home, Use By dates shouldnt be stretched too much as they are foods that will actually go bad in some way, Best Before dates mean just that, they won't be at their best. Common sense and your own senses is always the best way to go though!

Calleyw,I know what you mean about chest freezers! very useful for space but not so good for knowing whats in them!

Bennifred

KatieF wrote:

Calleyw,I know what you mean about chest freezers! very useful for space but not so good for knowing whats in them!

This is so true - my OH says he wouldn't be surprised to find a woolly mammoth at the bottom of ours..........._pale_ _pale_

Pink.

I don't follow any strict guidelines on how long to keep things in the freezer.....as others have said things usually last longer than guidelines say they will. If it looks and smells ok when I defrost it, then I use it. That's probably not the best advice, but it works for me.

Another thread that may help you is here: Frozen Meat - how safe it it?

Pink

Debt_Free_Chick

Purdy_1 wrote:

I have some stewing steak in my freezer that I froze 8.11.05. How long does meat keep once frozen?

Forever, but the quality deteriorates.

Wasn't some Ice Age man dug up from an Alpine glacier in "near perfect" condition? :eek: