Clearing the freezer for Christmas

tootallulah

Well I seem to be getting through some stuff now, 1 X quiche, 2 X pain raisin, cheese, lamb chops.

buddiebabe

Hi wonder if anyone can help please. I checked my freezer last night and I have lots of food in it. Left out two packs of mince that have been frozen from August but when went to use them when they had defrosted they were both off I have another 14 packs in there will they be safe enough to use? x

JIL

Buddiebabe, what was off about them? Was there a smell or had the mince just lost its deep red colour? How did you defrost the mince?
If you are confident the meat was OK when it went into the freezer and it stayed at the same constant temperature whilst it was in the freezer it should be just as good as when it comes out.
You may want to try another pack, defrosted slowly in the fridge to see if there's a problem.
Best wishes.

lisa110rry

It's fun reading this! I only have a small under counter upright freezer and very much wish I had a second chest type, but no room in the kitchen (apart from in the pantry possibly, but that would raise the temperature too much) and no electricity in the garage/outbuildings.

This week, hm pea and ham soup and the beef joint, bacon and sausages have come out of the freezer and into the fridge for Christmas and a huge pack of back bacon has gone in.

lynnejk

Hiya everyone


Out today


2 portions of Beef Bourguignon
2 portions peas
small bag apple for crumble
4 bread rolls


Lx


:xmassign:

buddiebabe

JIL wrote: »

Buddiebabe, what was off about them? Was there a smell or had the mince just lost its deep red colour? How did you defrost the mince?
If you are confident the meat was OK when it went into the freezer and it stayed at the same constant temperature whilst it was in the freezer it should be just as good as when it comes out.
You may want to try another pack, defrosted slowly in the fridge to see if there's a problem.
Best wishes.

Hi thanks for the reply. It had lost its colour but I wasn't concerned about that. It was once they were opened the smell was terribe.

I will try another pack once I have used up all the turkey I have left over x

greent

We've lost mince, steaks and pork in the freezer before now - once defrosted it was off in smell. Chicken and lamb seems to last MUCH longer (have eaten some way over a year old)- as do cooked meals, I now try and ensure that uncooked beef, steak and pork is rotated within 8weeks - and haven't lost any so far. My freezer is set at -22


My freezer still has heaps of fruit and veggies in from the Summer/ Autumn gluts... It's way too full at the mo and one of my priorities for Jan is to run it down (along with some of my cupboard supplies!) - will help with the inevitable lack of money in Jan and also it's a NY, and I'm always inspired to start having a clear out everywhere - so the food will form part of that.