Chicken that's been in the freezer for over a year..

[JofraArchersFastestBall]

I'm sorting out my freezer and have found some fairly elderly chicken thighs. They're just over a year from freezing.
They've been in a sealed freezer bag, and not thawed until now. They look ok, smell fine but I'm conscious that you shouldn't keep things in the freezer indefinitely and don't want to poison my family.

Would you eat them? What's the cut off for frozen chicken?

I'd eat it

It'll be fine. I'd eat it!

I wouldn’t eat it I’m afraid. Three months tops in freezer for poultry, meat or fish is my preference.

Eww I wouldn't. And I'm not that fussy but a year is pushing it

That's good. Chicken curry it is then.

Will report back tomorrow!

If they smell fine, they’re fine. Worst case, they’re a bit dry.

dinner tonight for us is chicken from the May layer of our freezer. It’s a bit freezer burnt but there will be lots of sauce.

Ha. Mixed responses now.... I'm going to cook it and see 🤞

I’d eat them

The quality (texture etc) might have deteriorated but they shouldn't be unsafe.

It depends on your freezer. If you have a deep freeze that goes down to -20c then I would. If it is a small over fridge freezer then no.

I don't recommend this, but

S1 left his student accommodation in March 2020 when lockdown started. He didn't have time to eat the prawns he'd put in the freezer.

When they went back in September things had been organised in such a way that he was in unexpectedly different accommodation for the whole year.

In September 2021 he returned to the room he'd had before, along with the same kitchen and the same freezer.

The prawns were still there.

He ate them.

He's still alive...

It will be completely fine

Yeah, it'll be fine! Get stuck in, especially for a curry!

The texture might change, but they'll still be fine to eat.
I've eaten frozen food well beyond its supposed lifespan without any problems.

I'd eat it.

(But then again, I eat anything)

I've been wondering this, too. I still have a frozen turkey from last December.

I think the rule is 6months. I wouldn't eat it. I've had some stuff in freezer unknowingly for months and the meat has been a different colour around the edges! I just couldn't risk it I wouldn't enjoy eating it. If I did end up I'll I wld be annoyed at myself too!

I'd eat them, in fact I wouldn't give it a second thought. It's perfectly safe to eat, the texture might not be quite the same but it'll be fine in a curry.

That's freezer burn. It gets dried out.

They will be fine.the 3 month is due to possible quality not safety.

I am always amazed by these threads that anyone knows how long stuff has been in the freezer for!

Sometimes things have dates on, sometimes you just know it's 'ages' or 'at least since X'.

I'm always saddened amazed that there are people who think that something that's been in the freezer a few months might be unsafe to eat. Do they not know what a freezer is for?

This. *
*
Frozen food that remains consistently frozen is literally safe to eat for DECADES.

The 3,6 month guidelines are for taste and texture, not safety.

Reporting back - it was absolutely fine.

I was pretty sure it would be because it smelled fine once defrosted, otherwise I wouldn't have considered eating it. I just had needed a bit of reassurance, which is when I turn to mumsnet!

Very glad it didn't go to waste. Thanks everyone.