Frozen Meat

babyg100

Can anyone tell me how long it's safe to keep frozen meat for? I've found some steaks which have been there for about 10 months! If I defrost will they still be ok?

Thanks
x

Butterfly_Brain

It will be fine I have had meat from my freezer that has been over 1 year old and never had a problem.

Mr_Lahey

Most places will tell you 1 month, most mothers will tell you 3 months, most grandparents will tell you as long as you want!

Personally i tend to stick to the 1 month rule. But as has already been said, people have eaten meat way past this.

Agapanthus

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

Most places will tell you 1 month, most mothers will tell you 3 months, most grandparents will tell you as long as you want!

Absolutely! As a recently-qualified grandmother I do concur - mostly. I certainly have meat in my freezer that's been there for five years or more. It isn't the most efficient way to use a freezer, though, so on those grounds alone it's better to keep things for shorter periods.

There are a couple of potential problems: one is freezer burn, that's when the surface of the meat (or fish) gets rather dried up and hard. It usually happens when the item isn't properly sealed up in an airtight bag. You can generally cut off the affected bit and eat the rest. It's not dangerous.

The other problem affects ham/gammon/bacon, where the fat can develop an unpleasant flavour. That probably isn't dangerous either, but it can be pretty unappetising. It really is best to keep that for only a few months.

Ten months for steak I'd say was no problem at all. If it looks OK and smells OK when you've defrosted it then it is OK.

mqandy

My family keep a pig every summer and a freezer full of sausages every winter...

Being frozen for 6 months doesn't stop them being the best bangers you'd ever taste!

thriftlady_2

Forever -is the answer.

Food kept frozen will NOT go bad. It may deteriorate in quality and texture somewhat but it will be perfectly safe to eat.

See this thread for more info

Farway

Agree with Agapanthus, but as a granddad, I often wonder at times, how long do you think New Zealand lamb is frozen for before you even buy it? Daft I call it

And those old enough will recognise the last sentence