Freeze And Use Within One Month

[pastafreak]

Those are the instructions on packs of fresh meat, yet surely most of us would freeze for longer ( a LOT longer for some of the bits in my freezer ).
What's the longest you would keep meat in the freezer for?

[237SJ]

I`ve kept meat for more than 6 months. Same with bottles of salad dressing etc - it says you should use within a week after opening. Who would eat a whole bottle of salad dressing in a week?

[Bazile]

If we buy neat and freeze it , I don't recall us using it within what it says on packet

[AuntPollyGrey]

Depends on the meat and what sort of freeer (if its a storage freezer or one that gets opened daily. I would keep shop bought burgers chicken pieces etc about a month but would use them up rather than throw them out. We have two full lambs in our chest freezer which lasts us from November to well into the next autumn with no difference in taste or texture but the freeer is only opened maybe once a week if that.

[naomi24]

From the internet: /According to the Butterball Turkey Talk Line Expert, turkey can be stored in the freezer (unopened and uninterrupted) for up to 2-3 years and still be safe to cook. However, for the best quality, we recommend using the frozen turkey within 7 months of storage.//

I don't think I'd fancy keeping meat for 2 or 3 years though.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I think commercially frozen meat has a longer 'shelf life' than something bought fresh and frozen in a household freezer,though I would not want to eat any meat over a year old

[Patsy33]

I think the manufacturer is more concerned with quality.

[pastafreak]

I've got some lamb that's been in there a bit over 6 months. I found some beef short ribs that have hidden in the back for 2 (eeek!) years. I never used them because my slow cooker wasn't big enough...

[dannyk13]

APG, you would have to leave your freezer door open a long time for it to have any effect on the contents.

[AuntPollyGrey]

opening and closing a freezer frequently allows moisture into the cabinet which will freeze and cause freezer burn on the contents over time. Freezer burn is not harmful to health but the texture of the food with freezer burn changes.

[Old_Geezer]

Until I discovered it at the back or bottom of the freezer.
I can always cook a discovery and judge it by sampling. I doubt it'd gone off, although accept quality might be reduced; but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

[woofgang]

I have just eaten a turkey bought last november. I suspect the freezing suggestion is based on the packaging which may not be suitable for long term freezing. I often find that meat bought fresh and put in the freezer gets freezer burn because the packaging eventually lets in air

[dannyk13]

APG, Never found freezer burn on any of my contents.If the contents are packaged does that make any difference?

[melv16]

I was given some Dexter beef 3yrs ago. We had a large piece of brisket for Xmas dinner, it was wonderful.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Yum Dexter beef is the best in my opinion. One of our neighbours breeds them and we get a hind quarter for the freezer.

[diddlydo]

Nothing goes "off" or inedible in the freezer so straight meat i.e. pork, beef, lamb, chicken keeps basically for ever. However, I have found that bacon, sausages and sausage meat can start to taste a bit rank after 3-4 months because the fat content tends to go slightly rancid. We still eat them though with no ill effects.

[ToraToraTora]

I've had meat in a freezer for over 2 years no problem.

[Cloverjo]

For Christmas lunch we had beef that had been in the freezer since the Christmas before. It was lovely.

[Barmaid]

What are you talking about prelogchan? I've seen younger policemen than the stuff in my freezers.

[TonyV]

preelogchan you ever not had 28 day hung beef steaks? Don't comment on nothing you obviously don't know about.