Useful information and advice on eating frozen food following the expiry date printed on these products.
If you notice that the expiration date on the package of frozen food has already passed, you may wonder if this food is still safe to eat.
The good news is that you can eat frozen food that has passed its expiration date, although in some cases, the taste, color and texture may have been significantly affected.
Regulations for dating food products vary by country, with some countries prohibiting the sale of food following the product date.
Here are some types of product dates you may see on your food:
“Use by” or “Use by”: The date when the product is expected to maintain its best quality
“Sell By”: The date by which a store must try to sell the product so that it can be purchased while it is still at its best taste and quality
“Freeze until”: When should a food be frozen to maintain peak taste and quality
None of these dates are actual expiration dates, nor do they indicate that the product will no longer be safe to eat at that time.
Freezing food is an excellent way to preserve its nutritional value, quality and taste.
Unlike perishable foods stored in the refrigerator, frozen foods are often safe long following the expiration date. Storing food at -18°C deactivates germs (bacteria) that might cause spoilage.
However, if the freezer is opened frequently and food is allowed to reach temperatures higher than -18°C, the chances of spoilage increase.
Although foods can be safely eaten following their expiration date, some may decline in quality and flavor following too much time in the freezer.
How long does frozen food last following the expiration date?
Although food is often safe to eat past its expiration date, that doesn’t mean you’ll want to eat it.
Prolonged storage of some foods can cause them to look or taste altered due to freezer burn or drying. To avoid food waste, get creative in how you use frozen foods, which may have dried out, by using them in casseroles, roasts, or smoothies.
If food has been stored improperly, or allowed to reach temperatures above -18°C, it may not be safe to eat, even if the product has not expired. If a food has an almost neutral, or rotten smell following defrosting, it is safe to throw it away.
Here are some steps you can take to make sure your frozen food stays safe:
Keep a thermometer in your freezer to check that the temperature remains at -18°C.
Avoid placing hot food in your freezer. Always cool first in the refrigerator before placing cooked products in the freezer.
Limit the frequency with which you open the freezer.
Here is a list of common foods and how long they will keep their quality and freshness in a -18°C freezer:
Meat, including poultry and fish, retains its quality much longer when frozen raw than when cooked. This is due to the higher moisture content in raw meat. Once cooked, it is more likely to dry out following being frozen for a longer period of time.
Freezing time for fruits and vegetables varies depending on how they are prepared, packaged and stored. Some vegetables, such as cabbage, potatoes, celery and cucumbers do not freeze well at all. Their high water content causes them to become mushy once defrosted.
Signs that frozen food has gone bad
Although frozen foods are safe to eat (provided they are frozen properly and in good condition), here are some obvious signs that they may have gone bad:
Freeze burn. This happens when frozen food has been exposed to air. The food is safe to eat, but may be dry and have an undesirable texture. If only small portions of the food have been freezer burned, you can simply cut them off and eat the rest.
Smell. Once thawed, do a sniff test. If it smells bad, then it is better to throw it away.
Texture. A mushy or slimy texture is an indicator of spoilage caused by bacteria.
Colour. Color is not the only indicator of spoilage, as many fresh foods change color once frozen. Fading or a darkened appearance of a food in addition to changes in smell or texture may indicate spoilage.
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