To eat this meat

[CharlieRight]

I called in to see MIL earlier (FIL works away during the week so I pop in once or twice pw to see if she needs anything and to chat a bit)

She reminded/ told me that there was a lot of our stuff in her chest freezer. So we went to look and there was indeed quite a lot; half a dozen steaks, mince, chicken breasts. All left over from when we lived there in 2021 so it is at least 4 years old.
(on a side note I am amused that they didn't eat it themselves, but not surprised because they do have quite a strong sense of 'not taking food out of our mouths' in this case literally)

Anyway I have taken it away and put it into our freezer have I just won the meat lottery or a one way ticket to food poisoning?

Meat usually keep for 6-12 months in the freezer, it will be "fine " but probably not the best quality now, bless her for not eating it though.

Sorry forgot to answer I probably wouldn't eat it,

I'd eat it. It won't be spoiled as its been frozen (will it?! I'm questioning myself now!)

It will be perfectly safe, but may be freezer burned so a bit dried out. I wouldn't be worried about eating it, but would probably choose not to, because it wouldn't taste as nice and be a bit tough.

Nope not eating that meat

Might be a bit rubbish if there's freezer burn, but otherwise absolutely fine!

I can't stand food waste!

It’s been frozen … it’s fine from a health perspective, it’s just May not be at its best.

Not a chance of me eating 4 year old meat.

Maybe stew it?
I’d eat the red meat but probably not the chicken. I can’t justify why though, it’s just how I feel about it! ‘don’t mess with chicken’ is ingrained, I think.

It will be absolutely fine. I'd probably lying braise/casserole it.

Absolutely, I'd eat it, no worries at all!

Frozen food is good (safe) indefinitely as long as it has remained frozen. Texture and flavour may diminish over time, but the food is safe.

Strictly dog / fox food

Yes I know it is safe to eat i said as much

I suppose technically you would be safe to eat it but it'll probably be tough as old boots.

From the Food Standards Agency:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36698697?app-referrer=deep-link

Four years is a bit long for me and not from a health point of view, but quality. However, I’d be overjoyed to give my fox family a feast, so it wouldn’t be wasted.

Eat it, it will be perfectly safe. Are you entirely sure their freezer hasn't been off or they wouldn't have emptied it to defrost?
If it was well packaged it shouldn't be freezer burned but the beef might be a bit discoloured.

Like some pp, I'd be inclined to use it in braised, slow cooked recipes like stew, curry, etc. Meat lottery!

Since it hasn’t been in your freezer you can’t guarantee it hasn’t been defrosted and refrozen a number of times. I am a bit cautious around meat so after 4 years in someone else’s freezer no I probably wouldn’t eat it.

Is there an emoji for shoehorn 👞 🎺?

thanks all, I was leaning towards using it, most of it is vacuum packed, and the seal intact. I will give the steaks a go first

I would slow cook the mince, red meat ect, and then just see what the chicken looked like. You can usually tell if it is freezer burnt

I wouldn't eat jt