Food Safety Issues/frozen food

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Expert: Carol Schlitt - 9/20/2006


Question
how long will beef last when frozen

Answer
Hi Laurie,

For quality purposes, it is recommended to store beef in the freezer up to 1 year. Ground beef starts to lose quality faster than whole muscle meat, but in general 1 year is the maximum freezer storage for quality.

As long as beef remains frozen it is safe to eat for much longer than a year -- just the quality goes down. Freezer burn isn't unsafe to eat -- just unappetizing!!

For more information on freezer storage of foods, see this website:  http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fttstore.html

Hope this helps.

Carol

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Volunteer

Carol Schlitt

Expertise

I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).

Experience

I am a former Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety, having retired August 1, 2010. I am a certified HACCP manager, a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health and a 3rd party food safety and OSHA auditor of restaurants.

Organizations
International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, St. Louis Culinary Society.

Education/Credentials
BS - University of Illinois MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

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