Does Meat Go Bad in The Freezer (What You Should Know)

Meat lovers always ask does meat go bad in the freezer so that they can allow their meat to stay in the freezer for so long, in this post, we will be discussing if the meat can go bad in the freezer.

First of all, no form of preservation is better than cooking your meat fresh from the butcher or meat seller, so keep that in mind.

Keeping meat in the freezer is just a form of preservation, there are other forms of preservation like smoking, salting, etc.

There are many sources and types of meat you can freeze to keep them safe until you want to use them. Freezing is a good source of preserving meat.

Does Meat Go Bad in the Freezer?

Frozen meat is indefinitely safe in the freezer because all microbial growth and activities will be suspended, however, after some time in the freezer, the meat will lose its taste and firmness due to the activities of ice crystals on the muscle of the meat making it lose when you thaw.

So, meat does not go bad in the freezer so long they are kept under the temperature of 0⁰c or -18⁰c.

Remember that meat is only good when it is firm to chew and not soft as overcooked rice.

Therefore, in simple terms the longer a slice of meat stays in the freezer the more firmness it loses.

However, freezing is one of the modern and safest methods of preservation of foods. Let’s now look at some disadvantages of freezing meat before we continue.

Disadvantages of freezing meat

Here are some disadvantages of freezing meat you should know;

• Long-time freezing can interfere with meat texture.
• The taste of the meat might change over time.
• Microbial growth and activities continue after de-freezing or thawing.
• Bacteria pathogens are not killed, but they are just immobilized.
• The freshness of the meat will be lost.
• Some micronutrients might be lost or transformed during freezing.
• Vitamins B and C might be lost in the freezing process.
• Freezer burn can affect the flavor of the meat, especially in chicken.

So, let’s also look at the advantages of freezing meat before we continue to why you are here.

Advantages of freezing meat

Here are some common advantages of freezing meat you should know;

• Freezing meat enhances minimal preparation.
• The quality of the meat can be retained longer.
• Freezing generally requires less time than other methods.
• Good quality meat can be transported under refrigerated conditions over long distances.
• Freezing food is the best way to preserve meat color.
• Meat can be stored for many months.
• Large quantities of meat can be stored.
• The freezing method preserves far more nutrients and is safer than canning.
• The freshness of the meat changes very little, etc.

Before we continue to do other things about meat freezing, let’s talk about why you came here, which is the question: does meat go bad in the freezer?

How long does frozen meat last in the freezer?

According to FoodSafety.gov frozen meat that’s kept at a temperature of 0° Fahrenheit or lower will be safe to eat indefinitely, however, after some time, the quality of the meat will degrade due to things like freezer burn.

It is important to note that the longer a slice of meat stays in the freezer, the more so physical and chemical properties reduce. This means a slice of meat can be safe to eat but not good to eat.

The United States Department of Agriculture notes that food, whether a favored saucy pasta dish or hearty cut of meat, stored at zero degrees Fahrenheit is safe to eat.

It is also important to note that depending on the cut and type of meat, uncooked meat may preserve in the freezer and stay at a high quality for anywhere from 1–12 months.

Factors that influence how safe meat lasts in the freezer

Here are some factors that influence how safe meat stays in the freezer;

Power supply

For your meat to stay safe in the freezer for a long period of time you should have a steady power supply, this will help maintain the temperature of the meat over time.

Packing material

People use a different range of packaging materials to store their meat in the freezer, however, this has a direct impact on the taste or quality of the meat after thawing.

So, what is safe for packaging meat?

Most people package meat by using a layer of plastic wrap, and then a layer of aluminum foil.

But I always recommend a method which is to wrap the meat in butcher or freezer paper.

This freezer paper contains waxy-coated paper (the waxy side should go towards the meat, with the paper side out).

Visit frequency

How often you visit the fridge will also influence how safe a slice of meat will last because if you open a fridge frequently you are introducing new air and it will take some time for the freezer to adjust back to its normal temperature.

If you’re the type that visits the fridge 10 times per day then think twice before storing your meat in the same fridge.

Other food materials around the meat

The presence of other food materials can influence the safety of your meat in the freezer because every food material comes with its own pros and cons of storing them.

More about meat:

• Does Red Meat Cause Colon Cancer: What You Should Know.
• Can You Eat Wolf Meat: All You Should Know.
• 10 Most Unhealthy Meat & 5 Most Healthy Meat.

So, what are the signs your meat has gone bad in the freezer?

How to tell if frozen meat is bad

According to thekitchn here are the common 7 signs your meat is going bad in the freezer.

• There is evidence of spills around the meat packaging.
• The protein has changed color.
• There are ice crystals inside the packaging.
• You can’t remember when exactly you put something in there.
• The veggies look super dull.
• The defrosted food is sticky or slimy.
• There’s a rancid or off odor.

How to Freeze Meat

Here are the steps involved in freezing meat:

• Clean the freezer section of your fridge.
• Put it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before putting it in the freezer.
• Wash the meat and keep it dry from the water droplets.
• Cut the meat into sizable portions.
• First, wrap the meat in plastic wrap or freezer paper or use a double layer of airtight freezer bags.
• Followed by a layer of foil or an airtight freezer bag for an extra layer of protection.
• Squeeze out as much air as possible but leave little room for the meat to expand while freezing.
• Place the wrapped meat in the center of the freezer without it touching the walls of the fridge.

The most popular meat and how long they should be in the freezer

Here are some popular meats and how long they should be left in the freezer.

Before we proceed, remember there is a difference between a slice of meat that is “safe to eat” and a slice of meat that is “good to eat”.

When you store meat for more than the recommended range of time, the meat will be safe to eat but not good to eat.

So, what is the recommended range of time a slice of meat should be in the freezer?

Summary of frozen meat;

The longer you keep any meat in the freezer, the more the value of the meat depreciates, so a proper recommendation is to keep your meat in the freezer for no more than 14 days.

You can always get to the butcher to buy another meat, so why store meat for so long?

The 3 best methods of thawing frozen meat

Here are the safest three ways of thawing meat;

Refrigerating

This is seen as the slowest and perhaps safest technique to thaw the sealed and package meat from the freezer to the refrigerator.

Remember, the cooling temperature of the freezer is different from that of the down part of the refrigerator.

In this method, smaller cuts of meat may defrost in a few hours, whereas larger cuts of meat may take a few days to defrost.

Submerging in water

To safely thaw meat faster, you should place the meat in a leakproof plastic bag and set it in a tub of cold water.

You should always change the water every 30 minutes and once thawed be sure to cook the meat immediately.

Microwaving

It is important to note that some microwaves have specific settings to help defrost frozen meat which is done at low temperatures.

However, remember If you are using the microwave method, then you have to cook the meat immediately after defrosting it.

They are another simple device that can help in thawing your meat, just like Defrosting Tray.

According to the Extension University of Missouri here is how long it should take to thaw some selected meats.

Meat	Time		Weight
Chickens	1 to 1-1/2 days 12 to 16 hours		4 pounds or more
Geese	1 to 2 days		6 to 12 pounds
Ducks	1 to 1-1/2 days		3 to 7 pounds
Turkeys	1 to 2 days		4 to 12 pounds

Freezing other types of meat

Here is the recommended time range you can keep the meat in the freezer:

Meat	Types
hot dogs	1-2 months
lunch meats	1-2 months
ham	1-2 months
Veal	6-7 months
lamb	6-7 months
fatty fish	1-3 months
lean fish	4-7 months

Common lean fish include bass, cod, tuna, and tilapia, while fatty fish include anchovies, mackerel, salmon, and sardines.

How long can meat stay in the fridge after being frozen

A slice of frozen meat should not stay more than 1 to 15 minutes in the fridge after thawing, however, the meat should be removed from the fridge immediately if there’s no sign of ice crystals as this is a sign of complete thawing.

Do not place a slice of meat in the fridge after frozen and forget it there because immediately after thawing all activities of microorganisms will be started leading to meat spoilage.

Can you eat expired meat if it was frozen?

Food poisoning bacteria does not grow in the freezer, so no matter how long a slice of raw meat is frozen, it is safe to eat. But once the meat is processed by any means, it is no longer safe because some of the materials used in processing will go bad even if it is frozen.

How do you know if frozen beef is bad?

1. You will notice lots of freezers burnt.
2. You will notice a change in texture.
3. Upleasent smells or There’s rancid or off odor.
4. The packaging is ripped.
5. You can’t remember when you froze it.
6. There are ice crystals inside the packaging.
7. The protein has changed color.

Check out other interesting topics;

• Can Red Meat Cause Constipation: What You Should Know.
• 12 Reasons Why Can Animals Eat Raw Meat & We Can’t.
• What Meat Has The Most Iron? No1 Best Meat Source of Iron.