How Long Can I Keep Ground Beef Frozen
How Long Tin can Y'all Safely Shop Ground Beef in the Freezer?
Information technology's longer than you recall—but that doesn't mean you should exist eating information technology.
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial squad. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Say you're making meatloaf for an impromptu get-together and you need ground beef. Y'all don't accept time to run to the grocery store, but you lot remember that there are several pounds stashed in your freezer.
Yous pull out the ground beef, and realize that yous forgot to label and engagement it. Y'all accept no thought how old it is. What do you do? Assume the ground beef is probably fine, or throw it out but to exist safe?
Eating healthy should still be delicious.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for more than groovy articles and tasty, good for you recipes.
Foodborne illness is no joke. And with the nearly contempo footing beef recall—which involved 2.1 million pounds due to salmonella concerns—fresh on our minds, post-obit safe handling practices is more than important than e'er correct now.
Ideally, y'all should ever characterization and engagement any nutrient that y'all plan to freeze. But if you run beyond something that doesn't have a date, you may exist surprised to know that this doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe to eat.
More Food Recall News:
- Recalled Ground Beef Linked to E. coli Outbreak Sold at Target, Aldi, Sam's Club
- Romaine E. coli Update: FDA Pinpoints Source, Says Outbreak Isn't Over Yet
- 91,000 Pounds of Ground Turkey Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
What'southward far more important is the temperature of your freezer. In order to effectively kill any bacteria, yeast, or mold, your freezer must be set to 0°F or colder. With that said, every bit long as nutrient is continuously stored at 0°F or colder, it will always be safe to consume.
In fact, the main issue for properly frozen food is freshness and quality. According to the FDA'due south freezer storage guidelines, the optimal storage time for frozen ground beefiness is three to 4 months. The same goes for any type of ground meat, including hamburger meat and ground turkey, pork, veal, or chicken.
And so, to respond the original question—aye, you technically can cook and consume the ground beef that's been sitting in your freezer, but that doesn't mean that y'all should. Instead, learn the signs that your footing beef may be past its prime then you'll exist able to tell if the flavor and texture take been compromised. According to the USDA's Freezing and Food Rubber guide, three potential signs to look for are freezer burn, colour changes, and water ice crystals.
With that said, don't chance serving your dinner guests subpar meatloaf. If y'all're worried, toss information technology out and gild pizza instead. But the adjacent time yous purchase fresh ground beef, keep in mind that you can safely store information technology in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If you aren't certain yous'll use it inside that fourth dimension frame, it'due south best to go ahead and freeze information technology.
Ground Beef Freezing Tips
- E'er label ground beefiness with the date and weight before freezing. Freeze large quantities of basis beefiness in half-pound or one-pound portions so you lot can defrost the verbal amount you demand.
- Check the temperature of your freezer periodically to ensure that information technology's set to 0°F or colder. (If y'all don't own a freezer thermometer, you can club one from Amazon.)
- To prevent freezer fire, wrap the ground beef in wax paper or freezer paper.
- The safest style to thaw frozen basis beef is in the fridge. Never leave it on the countertop to thaw as this exposes it to the danger zone (40°F to 140°F), the temperature range where leaner can grow. Cook or refreeze the beefiness inside 1 to two days.
- If you lose power, avoid opening the freezer door. Depending on how total your freezer is, frozen food lasts for 1 to 2 days (as long as the door stays airtight.)
Lastly, stay up to date on food recalls by subscribing to the Food Safety and Inspection Service's email alerts. For large recalls like the recent ground beef one, become into the habit of double-checking your freezer for the afflicted nutrient, equally this is an piece of cake place to overlook.
For more than information on safety treatment practices for raw and frozen footing beefiness, check out the USDA'south Ground Beef and Food Condom page.
Source: https://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/how-long-can-you-freeze-ground-beef
0 Response to "How Long Can I Keep Ground Beef Frozen"
Post a Comment