How long does frozen meat keep?

clarefrances84

Hi

This is my first post in OS please be gentle.:rolleyes2

I have only had my house for about a year and still trying to learn how to do things cheaply.

I tend to freeze foods like mince, chicken etc but never know how long they last.

what i mean is i put a pack of mince in the freezer about 6 weeks ago, and on the pack it says freeze in day of purchase and use within a month, is this still safe to use. I dont want to end up with food poisioning.

i was wondering how long frozen meats would last?

Sorry if this seems a stupid question.

Thanks

Fourcandles_3

My food hygiene course they said 6 months, but I know in industry it used to be kept for 5 years sometimes.

Personally I use the 6 month rule. As long as you rotate your food when you stock up, so older to the front, newer to the back, I wouldn't worry.

pigpen

I keep it until it is eaten!! Usually no more than a few months.. the dates on the pack are if it is not frozen so ignore that.. I have some fish in my freezer which was 'inherited' and has been past its date for about 3 years lol.. never killed anyone when I made fishcakes with it the other month!.

when you have a free day you could defrost it.. make it into meals and freeze the meals for when you have a not so free day and need a quick meal.

sarah_2-2

I agree- I freeze thing for ages and have never been ill from eating the foods afterwards- I've heard that the freezing recommendations are similar to 'best before' dates- the food will still be fine long after it, the taste will just start to (very gradually) deteriorate. But I've never noticed the difference!

OddjobKIA

i will freeze things untill tey get eaten....there is still a chicke drumstick in my frezzer that is older than some of my kids!!!!!

southernscouser

I defrosted some mince over night that I'd frozen probably a week into August. Anyway when it defrosted it was brown and looked pretty rancid.

How long should I keep frozen meat? I've got loads of pork chops in there aswell from around the same time? :undecided

CoD_2

August this year? they'll be absolutely fine. the mince probably oxidized (turned brown). does it smell off or just look different from bloody meat?

southernscouser

CoD wrote: »

August this year? they'll be absolutely fine. the mince probably oxidized (turned brown). does it smell off or just look different from bloody meat?

Yeah this year.

I dunno, I binned it. Thought it had gone off.

angelavdavis

Hi SS,

What a pain! I wouldn't expect fresh mince to go like this after such a short time, I believe meat is usually safe to keep frozen for up to 10 months (although the quality will deteriorate), could be one of the following factors:

1) The mince wasn't wrapped fully so the dry frozen air got into it causing it to deteriorate before fully frozen.
2) The freezer thermostat is on the blink or you had a power cut you weren't aware of and it defrosted partially.
3) The mince wasn't properly fresh before it was frozen.
4) Something warm was put close by which defrosted it.
5) A large quantity of food was added to the freezer, causing it to lower its temperature.

Here is a link providing a full listing of ideal frozen limits.

horsechestnut

It might have "freezer burn". To ensure that it doesn't happen again wrap it very well.
It won't harm you at all.
Food that is left frozen for a long time MAY lose quality, but it is perfectly good to use.
HOWEVER check that the freezer hasn't been turned off by mistake. If the food has defrosted Never use it!!!