Archive:Quick Questions on food safety / sell by / use by dates

viv0147

I bought some pork loin chops which I kept in the fridge and just noticed the use by date is up today, so they are now in the oven cooking. Now I wont really be needing to eat them today, so the ? is can I freeze them once they are cooked and cool down. Thanks

thriftlady_2

Yes, but make sure you eat them all when you defrost them and don't put leftovers back in the freezer.

ivyleaf

Yes, you can! Just make sure they are completely thawed before re-heating. I think they'd be best reheated as quickly as possible though, possibly in a microwave if you have one, though hopefully some more people will be along with other ideas soon.

Meadows

Exactly as TL said, and also I know you should freeze at the earliest date possible for best, I have frozen the odd things on the the use by day before now.
Another thing you could have done with them is to make a quick casserole or curry, that would have made a quick meal to re-heat later after being frozen.

raphanius

i have dug out some iceland stewing beef from the bottom of my chest freezer and i want to use it to use it in a beef stew but the packet has got ripped and the meat looks very dry. some of it is brown and some red and the meat in the middle of the pack - now defrosted - 'foams' a little (dunno what that is) the meat doesn't have much of a smell, maybe a bit 'fruity' but my sense of smell isn't very good. can i use it. i know beef is a safe meat but i am usnsure.

redruby

I a normally very careful with food, but I think I might be tempted to use this, as you said beef is considered a 'safe' meat, I would give it a good wash, and make sure it is cooked thoroughly.

hth

Menolly_2

Your beef has got "freezer burn" - it is safe to eat but has probably lost some of its quality and flavour. Since it is stewing beef, it will need a nice long cooking time anyway - what had you got planned for it?

raphanius

i am making jamie olivers beef stew recipe because i have some red wine to use up

Menolly_2

Oooh Yum! There are some good flavours going on there!!!!

raphanius

its a massive stew so i'm making for the freezer, i have also just made some left over mash into fishcakes using tesco's cheapest tinned pink salmon. i can't believe by doing things like this my shopping bill for food is about £40 a week down from £80. and its all thanks to this forum.