Can One Eat Beef That Had Been Frozen Past Its Expiration Date
In this article, we will answer the question "Can you eat frozen meat past its expiration date?", and how long does meat last in the freezer?
Can you eat frozen meat past its expiration date?
Yes, you can eat frozen meat past its expiration date. Some foods like meats can withstand extended freezer storage. Ground meat lasts 3-4 months and whole chicken or turkey stays good for up to a year in the freezer.
Meat constantly frozen at 0°F has an indefinite shelf-life. But prolonged storage produces noticeable quality changes in the frozen meat. Label the storage container before freezing meat. This helps in keeping track of the shelf-life of meat.
If the meat looks moldy or gives off a putrid odor upon thawing, discard it. The mold may grow in the form of discolored fuzzy patches or spots or it may look like a slimy film.
Some types of meat and meat products that are not fit for prolonged frozen storage include deli-prepared meals and salads, including chicken, tuna, or ham salads, pre-stuffed chicken breasts or pork chops, and various vacuum-packed dinners.
Understanding the label language
According to the USDA, the terms 'use-by, 'best-by, and 'sell-by, all portray a different meaning when they are printed on the food package. Let's talk about what these terms stand for.
Sell-by date: This date is of importance for the retailer. There is a time window past which the product should not be displayed on the store shelves. The retailer takes care of this and removes any products from the shelves that have exceeded their sell-by.
Use-by: The manufacturer does not take responsibility for the product quality and safety past this date. Therefore, any food with its use-by date exceeded poses safety threats.
Best-by: The use-by date is just a proposition that the product is best consumed by this date. The food product remains safe past this date but the quality deteriorates significantly.
The shelf-life of meat and poultry
Any canned, jarred or packaged food can be kept in the pantry at temperatures between 50-70℉. The following table shows the estimated shelf-life of meat and seafood in the fridge.
| Meat and seafood | In the fridge |
| Steak, veal, pork, and lamb | 3-5 days after purchase |
| Grounds beef | 1-2 days after purchase |
| Raw poultry | 1-2 days after purchase |
| Fish | 1-2 days after purchase |
| Shellfish | 1-2 days |
| Fish and shellfish leftovers | 3-4 days |
| Eggs | 3-5 weeks after purchase |
The following table shows the shelf-life of frozen meat products.
| Meat and seafood | Shelf-life |
| Bacon | 1-2 months |
| Chicken or turkey, whole | 1 year |
| Chicken, pieces | 9 months |
| Chops (pork, veal, lamb) | 4-12 months |
| Fish | 3-8 months |
| Ground meats | 3-4 months |
| Ham | 1-2 months |
| Hot dogs | 1-2 months |
| Lunch Meat | 3-4 months |
| Organ meats | 1-2 months |
| Roast | 4-12 months |
| Sausage, smoked | 1-2 months |
| Sausage, uncooked | 1-2 months |
| Shellfish | 3-12 months |
| Steak | 6-12 months |
| Wild game, uncooked | 8-12 months |
Freezing leftovers
Leftovers of soups, stews, casseroles, cooked meats and fish, and cooked beans, rice, and pasta can be safely frozen for prolonged periods.
Any leftovers containing dairy ingredients like cream sauces and custards and salads won't freeze well. The following table shows an estimated shelf-life of some common leftovers.
| Leftovers | Shelf-life |
| Broth | 2-3 months |
| Casseroles | 2-3 months |
| Chicken nuggets/patties | 1-3 months |
| Fish | 3 months |
| Gravy | 2-3 months |
| Meat or poultry | 2-6 months |
| Pasta | 2 months |
| Pizza | 1-2 months |
| Soups and stews | 2-3 months |
Foods that can be eaten after the expiration date
Pasta
Dry, boxed pasta, if stored correctly, stays good 1-2 years past the printed date. However, fresh (uncooked) pasta, sold in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, will only last 4-5 days past the printed date.
Breakfast cereal
An unopened box of breakfast cereals lasts 4-6 months past the printed date. Even if the cereal goes stale in the pantry, it remains safe to eat.
Eggs
The best-by date on the eggs is an indicator of freshness. The eggs remain safe for 3-5 weeks of their purchase date.
Raw fish
Unopened canned fish, such as tuna, stays good for about 2-5 years past the printed date.
Cheese
Cheese is quite-shelf-stable and can be eaten after the expiry date. If the mold hasn't spread throughout the cheese, you can cut the affected area and consume the rest of the cheese.
Leafy greens
Bagged salads and pre-cut or frozen veggies come with a sell-by date. But the veggies can last sometime after the printed date. If the leafy veggies have just started to wilt, they can be rescued by dumping them in ice-cold water for 5-10 minutes.
Other FAQs about Meat that you may be interested in.
Can you freeze cooked taco meat?
What's the Difference between Barbacoa and Carnitas?
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question "Can you eat frozen meat past its expiration date?", and how long does meat last in the freezer?
References
Hello, I'm Sana Ameer. I'm a student of Food Science and Technology at UVAS. I like to bake and I aspire to become a Food blogger.
Source: https://thewholeportion.com/can-you-eat-frozen-meat-past-its-expiration-date/
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