How Long Can I Freeze Cooked Ground Beef

How Long Can You Safely Store Ground Beef in the Freezer?

It's longer than you call up—but that doesn't hateful you lot should be eating it.

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Say yous're making meatloaf for an impromptu become-together and you need footing beef. You don't have fourth dimension to run to the grocery shop, just you remember that in that location are several pounds stashed in your freezer.

You pull out the ground beef, and realize that you forgot to label and date it. Y'all have no idea how old it is. What do you do? Assume the basis beefiness is probably fine, or throw it out only to be safe?

Eating healthy should all the same be delicious.

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Foodborne illness is no joke. And with the most recent ground beefiness recall—which involved two.1 million pounds due to salmonella concerns—fresh on our minds, following rubber handling practices is more important than ever right at present.

Ideally, you should always characterization and date whatever food that you plan to freeze. Merely if you lot run across something that doesn't accept a date, you may be surprised to know that this doesn't necessarily mean it'southward unsafe to swallow.

More Food Remember News:

• Recalled Footing Beef Linked to E. coli Outbreak Sold at Target, Aldi, Sam's Club
• Romaine E. coli Update: FDA Pinpoints Source, Says Outbreak Isn't Over All the same
• 91,000 Pounds of Footing Turkey Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

What's far more important is the temperature of your freezer. In order to effectively kill any leaner, yeast, or mold, your freezer must be set to 0°F or colder. With that said, as long as food is continuously stored at 0°F or colder, it volition always be condom to eat.

In fact, the main issue for properly frozen food is freshness and quality. Co-ordinate to the FDA'due south freezer storage guidelines, the optimal storage time for frozen ground beef is three to four months. The same goes for any type of footing meat, including hamburger meat and ground turkey, pork, veal, or chicken.

And so, to answer the original question—yes, you lot technically can cook and eat the ground beef that's been sitting in your freezer, simply that doesn't mean that yous should. Instead, learn the signs that your ground beef may be by its prime number and then you'll be able to tell if the flavor and texture have been compromised. Co-ordinate to the USDA's Freezing and Food Rubber guide, 3 potential signs to look for are freezer burn, color changes, and ice crystals.

With that said, don't risk serving your dinner guests subpar meatloaf. If you're worried, toss information technology out and order pizza instead. Merely the next fourth dimension you lot purchase fresh ground beefiness, go on in listen that you can safely store it in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If you aren't certain you'll apply it within that time frame, information technology's best to go ahead and freeze it.

Basis Beef Freezing Tips

• Always label basis beef with the appointment and weight before freezing. Freeze large quantities of basis beef in half-pound or i-pound portions so you can defrost the verbal corporeality you lot need.
• Check the temperature of your freezer periodically to ensure that it's prepare to 0°F or colder. (If y'all don't own a freezer thermometer, y'all can society one from Amazon.)
• To prevent freezer burn, wrap the footing beefiness in wax paper or freezer paper.
• The safest way to thaw frozen ground beef is in the refrigerator. Never leave it on the countertop to thaw as this exposes it to the danger zone (twoscore°F to 140°F), the temperature range where bacteria can abound. Cook or refreeze the beef within one to ii days.
• If you lose ability, avoid opening the freezer door. Depending on how full your freezer is, frozen food lasts for 1 to two days (as long as the door stays airtight.)

Lastly, stay up to date on nutrient recalls by subscribing to the Food Safety and Inspection Service'due south email alerts. For large recalls similar the recent ground beef one, go into the habit of double-checking your freezer for the affected food, every bit this is an easy place to overlook.

For more information on safe handling practices for raw and frozen ground beef, check out the USDA's Ground Beef and Food Safety page.

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Source: https://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/how-long-can-you-freeze-ground-beef

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