AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question After Christmas dinner last year (2008) I put the ham bone in the freezer that evening. Now it's mid-October and I was going to use it to make bean soup. Can I assume it is safe since it has been in the freezer all this time?
Answer Hi Judy,
As long as the ham bone was continually frozen it is safe to use. Freezer guidelines for usage of meat is based on quality -- not safety. In other words, foods continually frozen for years will be safe to consume, just not very tasty as foods frozen for shorter periods of time. After all, freezer burn is not unsafe to consume...just not very appetizing.
