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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think I can cook beef mince that’s been frozen for six months?

57 replies

mmmgoats · 27/01/2019 18:42

DH is saying it has to be 3-4 according to guidelines but I’m sure we’ve done it many times before and it’s been fine.
he’s also saying the chicken breasts all have to be thrown out (the ones we haven’t used) because they’ve been frozen for over two months.

I keep a fully stocked freezer and rotate food so use it and restock it, as I’m sure a lot of people do! I freeze on day of purchase and label with dates.

I thought he was being ridiculous at first but now I’m doubting myself - I’ve found three different “safety guidelines” lists online that all say different things so I’m just curious what the norm is for you.

OP posts:
FuckOffMeadowSoprano · 27/01/2019 18:54

Yep mince I would.

WinterHeatWave · 27/01/2019 18:54

Very short freezing lengths are about textures rather than safety.
I'd eat both mince and chicken that have been in the freezer 6+months.

Southwest12 · 27/01/2019 18:55

I cooked a beef joint last weekend that went in the freezer in November 2017, it was fine. Though I used tinned tomatoes today that had a use by date of 2016 on them so I’m not the best person to ask!

GroggyLegs · 27/01/2019 19:00

It's a quality issue.
The bacteria in food won't grow at freezing temperatures. It's as safe to defrost & eat now as it was at 3 months.
But the freezing draws the moisture out, meaning the quality wont be as good.

Interested in the rancidity factor though foxtrot isn't that the result of oxidisation? That would be limited in a freezer wouldn't it? I'm off to Google!

ClanoftheCaveBear · 27/01/2019 19:01

I wouldn’t even think about it. I don’t keep a note of how long things have been frozen for.

DragonMamma · 27/01/2019 19:06

Fucking hell. I pay no attention to any of this stuff. I’d eat it up to a year and probably longer, providing it didn’t look too freezer burnt!

Zwischenwasser · 27/01/2019 19:09

PPs are right.

It’s a quality not a bacterial issue.

cloudtree · 27/01/2019 19:10

Yes of course you can. No issues at all.

caughtinanet · 27/01/2019 19:11

Of course, totally wasteful to throw it away

ShesABelter · 27/01/2019 19:11

I'd eat that without a second thought.

Boom76 · 27/01/2019 19:12

I’ve just ate chilli with mince that’s been frozen for around 8 months. I’ve done it loads of times and I’ve never been ill with it

bridgetreilly · 27/01/2019 19:12

HIBVVVVU.

Cook it, eat it, you'll all be fine. Freezers are designed to be long term safe storage for food.

Wildcate · 27/01/2019 19:13

Eaten mince that’s been in my freezer 2+years on numerous occasions with absolutely no ill effects whatsoever.

RavenMaven · 27/01/2019 19:15

Another one who'll eat meat and fish from the freezer with no idea how long it's been there for. No food poisoning for me or my family as a result.

DarthLipgloss · 27/01/2019 19:18

I'd just eat it...mince always goes in a recipe anyway

avinitall · 27/01/2019 19:34

I've eaten meat from the freezer that's been in there for over a year many times. Minced beef and joints. Never had illness in the family from out of date food and I buy a lot of it.

PositiveVibez · 27/01/2019 19:40

I wouldn't give it a second thought. Same with the chicken breasts. But I do have a cast iron stomach and rarely pay heed to dates, unless something smells funky.

Original poster
mmmgoats · 27/01/2019 19:43

THANK YOU.

I think it's such a waste and wouldn't consider throwing any of it away usually but it really made me doubt myself and worry about it.

OP posts:
OnlyaMan · 27/01/2019 19:47

What about those Mammoths that have been dug up from the Arctic Ice? They looked OK. But I am not sure if anyone ate them.

StandardPoodle · 27/01/2019 20:21

I wouldn't have a second thought about it.
Once we had a 3 bird roast which was two and a half years out of date.
It was fine.

Sankayaded · 27/01/2019 20:21

My DH is a farmer and we get a cow put in the deep freezer (well 1/2 And we give the other 1/2 to family), it lasts us a year with no problems. Only thing I notice is the texture isn't as good towards the end.
You'll be fine I'm sure!

longwayoff · 27/01/2019 20:45

Eat it. It will be fine. Although I didn't eat the moussaka I considered for lunch last year. Use by 2014. Thought that might well be past its bestHmm

Tyke2 · 27/01/2019 20:52

I trained as a butcher as a youngster, college and everything!.
Beef is fine for years in the freezer.
Pork degrades faster. The fat breaks down and becomes "reisty".

Original poster
mmmgoats · 27/01/2019 21:23

And I’ve learned a new word today - reisty 😁

Glad to hear it’s not just me who doesn’t stay on top of how long things have been left in the freezer!

OP posts:
user1474894224 · 27/01/2019 21:35

When we moved this year I actually got rid of a few things that had been in the freezer around 6 years. Lol. Frozen food is fine to eat. I would eat mince and chicken that had been in there years. Most people wouldn't notice the quality deterioration. Especially with mass produced food which can be pumped full of water anyway.

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