frozen ground beef???

[My2CrazyGirls]

I found Whole Foods ground beef buried in the freezer from 15 months ago. Can I use it or should I throw it out? It is all packed up so I haven't looked at it yet.

 

[JanaDee]

From 15 months ago? I'd toss it. My max for frozen meat is a year.

 

[dawnhaze]

From 15 months ago? I'd toss it. My max for frozen meat is a year.

Same here. Even a year is stretching it for me, at least on ground meats. I feel like they get icky a little faster than steaks or roasts do. Either way, 15 months is definitely too long, IMO.

 

[Sadie22]

So long as the meat has remained frozen, it may not be at the peak of quality anymore, but that does not mean you cannot safely cook and eat it. Make a meat sauce for spaghetti or lasagna or chili con carne.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html

According to this chart, best to toss it. I've done 6 months, but that was not peak freshness in the chili.

 

[msmama]

If it's been frozen the whole time, I'd use it. Well, as long as it looks and smells ok once defrosted.

Maybe not what you're supposed to do, but what I would do (of course, I'd never have looked at the date on it anyway, most likely, lol).

 

[Sadie22]

http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html

According to this chart, best to toss it. I've done 6 months, but that was not peak freshness in the chili.

Actually, the chart says this above the listings:

"Storage Times for the Refrigerator and Freezer
These short but safe time limits for home-refrigerated foods will keep them from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely." Emphasis added.

I would certainly use the ground beef in something that would be well-cooked in a liquid, but I would not toss this. I might add that I do not freeze ground beef raw. I buy the big packages at Wegman's and cook all of it at once. DH even mixed and baked mini meat loaves out of the last package we bought (after I measured out all the ingredients for him). He can eat this with a pre-stuffed and frozen baked potato when I'm not cooking.

I think a lot of food is thrown out unnecessarily, and this contributes to some Disers wondering why their grocery spending is so high.

 

[Happyjen27]

So long as the meat has remained frozen, it may not be at the peak of quality anymore, but that does not mean you cannot safely cook and eat it. Make a meat sauce for spaghetti or lasagna or chili con carne.

Yup, this is what I would do. It isn't possible for any bacteria or fungus to grow in a freezer. They can survive being frozen and when they thaw they can resume their growth, however, it's not like they know "oooooh, I've been cold for 12 months too long, let's grow like crazy and poison someone" Therefore, the risk of illness from these pathogens is the same whether the meat was frozen for a week or a year.

I would def. cook with it in a capacity that would compensate for any potential loss of flavor, like taco meat or whatevz.

 

[JanaDee]

Yup, this is what I would do. It isn't possible for any bacteria or fungus to grow in a freezer. They can survive being frozen and when they thaw they can resume their growth, however, it's not like they know "oooooh, I've been cold for 12 months too long, let's grow like crazy and poison someone" Therefore, the risk of illness from these pathogens is the same whether the meat was frozen for a week or a year.

I would def. cook with it in a capacity that would compensate for any potential loss of flavor, like taco meat or whatevz.

I'm not the least bit worried about getting sick from eating meat that has been frozen that long. It is about the decline in quality after that amount of time.

 

[manning]

Get a foodsaver handheld vacuum pump and Foodsaver ziplock bags. The pump is only about $20.00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWtnHeCw7U

 

[yoopermom]

These threads always confuse me, because we buy a 1/4 beef and 1/2 hog yearly, and often times are still eating up the meat right up until we get the next one (so easily 10-11 months, sometimes a year). If the meat has stayed frozen (ours is always at the bottom of our chest freezer, with local purchases on top like frozen veg and pizzas), I'm just not too worried about it. I would cook it up and use it in something, like casserole, chili, or pasta, and not think twice about it.

Terri

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Thanks for all the info