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does meat spoil if frozen?
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2002
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i want to make taco salad for dinner tonight. there is an unopened pack of ground beef in the freezer. it's been in there for months. i cannot even recall when i bought it but it has been frozen all that time. provided i cook it throughly, is it safe to eat?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington state
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Safe? Maybe! Tasty? NO!
Assume that moisture slowly "evaporates" from the meat over time even when stored frozen. Bacteria grows far more slowly; but, the loss of moisture leads to a loss of texture. sam
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Moderator  Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hilbert space
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Yes, frozen meat can spoil. Especially ground meat spoils easily. If you don't even know how old it is, do yourself a favor and eat something else.
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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Another disaster avoided thanks to MacNN Lounge.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
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According to the USDA:
Ground beef is safe indefinitely if kept frozen, but will lose quality over time. It is best if used within 4 months.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Good question...
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Freezer burn makes meat taste great!
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
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I was going to say: it won't spoil, since the organisms that cause meat to spoil can't survive in the freezer, but it can freezer-burn. If you don't know how old the meat is, you're best off not using it, just to be safe.
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You are in Soviet Russia. It is dark. Grue is likely to be eaten by YOU!
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: The Rockies
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Just thaw it and give it the sniff test.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Reminds me of this gem:
Carl Weathers: Whoa, whoa, whoa. There's still plenty of meat on that bone. Now you take this home, throw it in a pot, add some broth, a potato. Baby, you've got a stew going.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Minnesota - Twins Territory
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Originally Posted by BRussell
Just thaw it and give it the sniff test.
thats what she said
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, UT USA
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I recall reading safe freezing times for meats.
This is the USDA recommendation:
Time is listed in months:
Bacon and Sausage 1 to 2
Casseroles 2 to 3
Egg whites or egg substitutes 12
Frozen Dinners and Entrees 3 to 4
Gravy, meat or poultry 2 to 3
Ham, Hotdogs and Lunchmeats 1 to 2
Meat, uncooked roasts 4 to 12
Meat, uncooked steaks or chops 4 to 12
Meat, uncooked ground 3 to 4
Meat, cooked 2 to 3
Poultry, uncooked whole 12
Poultry, uncooked parts 9
Poultry, uncooked giblets 3 to 4
Poultry, cooked 4
Soups and Stews 2 to 3
Wild game, uncooked 8 to 12
Another USDA link
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Well I went ahead and unthawed it. I cooked it a little longer than normal. It didn't have any strange taste or smell so I ate it, so there you go.
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