How Long Is Frozen Ground Beef
How Long Can You Safely Store Footing Beef in the Freezer?
It'due south longer than yous think—but that doesn't hateful you should be eating it.
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Say you lot're making meatloaf for an impromptu get-together and you need ground beef. Y'all don't have fourth dimension to run to the grocery store, simply you remember that there are several pounds stashed in your freezer.
You pull out the footing beef, and realize that you lot forgot to label and engagement information technology. Y'all have no idea how old it is. What exercise you do? Assume the ground beefiness is probably fine, or throw it out merely to exist safe?
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Foodborne illness is no joke. And with the most contempo ground beef recall—which involved 2.1 million pounds due to salmonella concerns—fresh on our minds, following safe handling practices is more of import than ever right now.
Ideally, you lot should always label and engagement whatsoever food that you plan to freeze. But if you run across something that doesn't have a date, you may be surprised to know that this doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe to consume.
More Food Recall News:
- Recalled Ground Beef Linked to East. coli Outbreak Sold at Target, Aldi, Sam'southward Guild
- Romaine E. coli Update: FDA Pinpoints Source, Says Outbreak Isn't Over Withal
- 91,000 Pounds of Basis Turkey Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
What's far more important is the temperature of your freezer. In social club to effectively kill any bacteria, yeast, or mold, your freezer must be set up to 0°F or colder. With that said, every bit long every bit food is continuously stored at 0°F or colder, it will always be condom to eat.
In fact, the main consequence for properly frozen food is freshness and quality. Co-ordinate to the FDA'south freezer storage guidelines, the optimal storage fourth dimension for frozen ground beef is three to iv months. The same goes for any blazon of footing meat, including hamburger meat and basis turkey, pork, veal, or chicken.
So, to answer the original question—yes, you technically can cook and consume the ground beef that'due south been sitting in your freezer, but that doesn't mean that y'all should. Instead, acquire the signs that your footing beef may be past its prime so you'll be able to tell if the flavor and texture have been compromised. Co-ordinate to the USDA'southward Freezing and Nutrient Safety guide, iii potential signs to look for are freezer burn, color changes, and ice crystals.
With that said, don't hazard serving your dinner guests subpar meatloaf. If y'all're worried, toss it out and lodge pizza instead. Just the next time y'all buy fresh ground beef, keep in mind that you tin safely store it in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If you lot aren't sure you'll use information technology within that time frame, it's best to go alee and freeze it.
Ground Beef Freezing Tips
- Always characterization ground beef with the date and weight before freezing. Freeze large quantities of ground beefiness in one-half-pound or one-pound portions so you tin can defrost the verbal amount you need.
- Bank check the temperature of your freezer periodically to ensure that it'southward set to 0°F or colder. (If you don't own a freezer thermometer, you lot tin order one from Amazon.)
- To prevent freezer burn, wrap the basis beef in wax paper or freezer paper.
- The safest style to thaw frozen ground beefiness is in the refrigerator. Never exit information technology on the countertop to thaw as this exposes it to the danger zone (40°F to 140°F), the temperature range where bacteria tin abound. Melt or refreeze the beef within 1 to 2 days.
- If you lot lose power, avoid opening the freezer door. Depending on how full your freezer is, frozen food lasts for i to 2 days (every bit long equally the door stays closed.)
Lastly, stay upward to appointment on food recalls by subscribing to the Food Safety and Inspection Service'southward email alerts. For big recalls similar the recent ground beef one, get into the habit of double-checking your freezer for the afflicted food, as this is an easy place to overlook.
For more information on condom handling practices for raw and frozen ground beef, bank check out the USDA's Ground Beef and Food Safety folio.
Source: https://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/how-long-can-you-freeze-ground-beef
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