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Topic: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?  (Read 1195 times)

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  • Jewlz
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How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« on: June 12, 2009, 11:10:18 AM »
I've got some tuna steaks in the freezer, they have been in there for several months. (Bought them in the discount section, and put them in the freezer as soon as I got home.) Are they still edible? I'm don't usually keep things in there so long, so I have no idea.... Thanks!


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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2009, 11:16:17 AM »
I was always under the impression that things in the freezer are for life hahaha  That is so not the case.  I want to know the answer to this as well as I don't normally keep things that long either :) 

By the way, how did you store it?  Was it in the original container you bought it in or did you put it in a freezer bag?  Thanks! 
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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2009, 11:36:32 AM »
It's in the original packaging. Someone at work said you should'nt keep meat or fish in the freezer for longer than 3 months. I think it's been longer than that. Just want to double check before I have to be wasteful and toss it out. Thanks!


Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2009, 12:09:28 PM »
I'd thaw it out and then sniff it... if it smells funny or is discoloured, i'd bin it, but otherwise i'd use it.

Not exactly the definitive answer you're looking for... sorry!   I just try to use common sense in matters like this.


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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2009, 01:07:54 PM »
I'd thaw it out and then sniff it... if it smells funny or is discoloured, i'd bin it, but otherwise i'd use it.

Not exactly the definitive answer you're looking for... sorry!   I just try to use common sense in matters like this.

Common sense? What's that?!  :P


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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2009, 02:57:50 PM »
I'm another one who thinks it can stay in there forever, or until it seems to be freezer burned and totally encrusted in frost. My mother would probably die if she knew that!  :P


Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2009, 03:08:02 PM »
I'd thaw it out and then sniff it... if it smells funny or is discoloured, i'd bin it, but otherwise i'd use it.

Not exactly the definitive answer you're looking for... sorry!   I just try to use common sense in matters like this.

I'd do the same, but the only thing is that sometimes food can get a 'freezer' taste that isn't very nice after being in there for too long.  :-X


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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2009, 08:03:05 PM »
I accidentally ate some prawns that had been in the freezer for four years...I am still here to tell the tale  ;) ;D
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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2009, 11:06:49 PM »
I'm a thaw and sniff and poke kind of person myself.  It really depends on the freezer type.

They won't be spoiled they may just taste a bit odd. 
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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2009, 08:27:05 AM »
It's in the original packaging.

if it's in the original packaging, it will probably have freezing guidelines printed on it somewhere.  But i usually ignore those and just use my own judgement.


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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2009, 09:02:34 AM »
Common sense is a good thing!  :)  However, I'd be more inclined to eat meat (beef, pork, chicken, etc) that had been in the freezer for months, than I would fish - as I think the guidelines for length of freezing time are much less for fish.  But then I used to live with an emetophobic, so it was always better safe than sorry.
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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2009, 09:32:51 AM »
I found a link yesterday to freezing guidelines, but it was for commercially frozen food, so not very helpful...BUT...it did stress the point that whether it's commercially or home frozen, it won't 'go off' unless it's thawed and bacteria have been allowed to grow - so it's safe to eat.

My own fridge/freezer has a handy little sticker inside the freezer door - these follow the guidelines that I more or less remember being raised with and are definitely for home frozen foods - the guideline for fish and seafood is three months.  Pork and turkey - six months.  Lamb and chicken - nine months.  Beef - 12 months.  The guidelines I was raised with is that after that time, no matter how well packaged, you'd probably find freezer burn...
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Re: How long can you keep meat and fish in the freezer?
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2009, 03:12:57 PM »
3 months in a regular freezer
6 months - 1 year in a deep freezer/chest freezer. 

I read it on a cooking website a few weeks ago but can't remember where now.

Of course YMMV.  I operate on the "is it freezer burnt" and "does it smell funny" test.
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