Is it safe to eat meat that has been frozen for longer than 3 months? Thanks, Christine.

When foods are ‘quick frozen’, the natural degradation process is slowed down practically to zero, making it impossible for bacteria to multiply. So, frozen meat, assuming it was bought frozen and has remained so since, is possible to keep almost indefinitely. However, it is best to refer to the ‘best before’ date, as advised by the manufacturer. If using frozen food after the ‘best before date’ you may experience a reduction in eating quality, but the product still remains safe to eat (as long as it has not been defrosted and refrozen in that time).

Depending on what type of meat it is and what freezer you have, recommended storage times of frozen foods  are between two to 12 months.

If this is meat you have bought unfrozen, we recommend to follow our guidelines for safe defrosting of frozen food and use your own judgement once thawed. If you think the meat has gone bad, give it a quick whiff and check for any discolouration.

Once you have finshed defrosting your frozen foods and want to pick up some recipes from frozen foods ideas click here.

Thank you for your frozen food question. Click here to see where your frozen food comes from.

The New Ice Age Team