To eat last years frozen supplies

[TrialOfStyle]

I have raided the big chest freezer which I rarely use and have a found an awful lot of food dated around last Xmas (and some things before that). I honestly forgot all about it as my relationship broke up then and I’ve just stopped using that freezer all together.

It really is all sorts of things - ready meals/ party food, mince, cheesecake, stuffing, bread, pierogi etc.

Should I eat it or throw the lot out? I’ve had an individually wrapped ice cream and that was fine, but I’m not sure about about some of the meat based meals. What you would do?

I'd probably eat it!

The taste and texture may have deteriorated but it won’t hurt you as long as you know it’s remained frozen the whole time, not defrosted and refrozen

I'd eat it.

In this house it's called "The Great Christmas Eat Down" where we live on freezer stuff on the run up to Xmas - to ensure turnover and to make space for Xmas foods.

Yeah it'll be fine, enjoy!

Eat it.

I've just eaten sausages that I cooked in Nov 2019 and froze then forgot about. I'm fine.

Similarly, last weekend I used up the last of last years turkey in a risotto. I'm sure theres stuff in there that's been even longer

It'll be fine.

You’ll be fine. As a PP said, taste and texture may have suffered but it’s frozen so won’t be bad for you.

DP found a freezer in his grans chest freezer a few years ago. The use by date was 1990 that didn’t get eaten like.

Flipping heck you’re all braver than me... I’d throw anything that’s a year old.

My MIL freezes everything. Last week she a bit of a takeaway her dh couldn't finish at the time, so they froze it. He's been dead about 5 years.

@Namerchanger42

Flipping heck you’re all braver than me... I’d throw anything that’s a year old.

It's not about 'bravery' it's about understanding that frozen food is safe

How exactly do you think it has decayed whilst at -20C?

@Brighterthansunflowers

The taste and texture may have deteriorated but it won’t hurt you as long as you know it’s remained frozen the whole time, not defrosted and refrozen

Exactly this.

The dates for how long something should be frozen are about the quality, not safety

I'm not sure. I had a weight watchers meal recently that I'd bought at the start of the year and I was sick in the night! It's totally changed my understanding of frozen food!

That would rather be the defrosting than freezing since frozen food doesn't spoil.

I've often eaten frozen stuff with a sell by date of say June then realised it's still May so that's last June. . Never had any issues except with fresh tuna that's been frozen, seems to deteriorate in both taste and texture relatively quickly.

'My MIL freezes everything. Last week she a bit of a takeaway her dh couldn't finish at the time, so they froze it. He's been dead about 5 years.'

id eat it

I'm not sure. I had a weight watchers meal recently that I'd bought at the start of the year and I was sick in the night! It's totally changed my understanding of frozen food!

Anything could have made you sick overnight, if it was stored and heated properly its unlikely to have been a frozen meal

I have eaten food from chest freezer that I put in there at least 5 years ago with no problem. Meat, cakes,fruit/veg. Batch cooked meals,cheese. As you may have discovered I did not go into my freezer much until this year. Only problem I have is I did not label many things so have some "interesting" experiences with defrosting

It's not about 'bravery' it's about understanding that frozen food is safe
It took me years to persuade my Mum that if she froze something on its expiry date that it was still safe to use when thawed out.

If it isn't brave - why do frozen food packets say 'eat within 3 months of freezing' etc?

And really? 5 years?? I wouldn't eat that....

@isitsnowingyet

If it isn't brave - why do frozen food packets say 'eat within 3 months of freezing' etc?

And really? 5 years?? I wouldn't eat that....

It's about the quality.

@isitsnowingyet

If it isn't brave - why do frozen food packets say 'eat within 3 months of freezing' etc?

And really? 5 years?? I wouldn't eat that....

It's like Best Before date

@PawsAndPhytoncides

I'd eat it.

In this house it's called "The Great Christmas Eat Down" where we live on freezer stuff on the run up to Xmas - to ensure turnover and to make space for Xmas foods.

Yay I'm not the only one to do this. Currently happening in our house btw.

This is something mumsnet could do as a good deed. Educate their users about basic food safety. I can imagine the sinful amount of food people waste just because they won't find information about whether it's ok to eat something morning after use by date, after best before date or after it being frozen for a while.

Veterinari

Namerchanger42
Flipping heck you’re all braver than me... I’d throw anything that’s a year old.

It's not about 'bravery' it's about understanding that frozen food is safe confused

How exactly do you think it has decayed whilst at -20C?

I said ‘braver than me’ because I wouldn’t want to risk food poisoning for the sake of a couple of quid, and no I’ve not got money to burn either.
Food does deteriorate over time, I defrosted salmon that was frozen in the day of purchase but 13 months old and it smelled vinegary, so I didn’t risk it for the sake of saving £4.
It’s not a sinful waste either - I’m trying to avoid shutting through the eye of a needle for the next couple of days!!