Will Ground Beef Get Freezer Burnt if the Package Is Open

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

Information technology's longer than yous think—merely that doesn't mean you should be eating it.

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Say you're making meatloaf for an impromptu go-together and y'all need ground beefiness. You don't have time to run to the grocery store, but yous remember that at that place are several pounds stashed in your freezer.

Y'all pull out the ground beefiness, and realize that you forgot to characterization and engagement it. You lot take no idea how quondam information technology is. What do you do? Assume the ground beefiness is probably fine, or throw it out just to be safe?

Eating healthy should yet be succulent.

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Foodborne affliction is no joke. And with the about recent ground beef recall—which involved 2.1 million pounds due to salmonella concerns—fresh on our minds, post-obit safe treatment practices is more important than ever right now.

Ideally, you should always label and date whatever food that you plan to freeze. But if yous run across something that doesn't have a date, yous may be surprised to know that this doesn't necessarily mean it's dangerous to eat.

More Food Call back News:

• Recalled Basis Beef Linked to East. coli Outbreak Sold at Target, Aldi, Sam'due south Gild
• Romaine E. coli Update: FDA Pinpoints Source, Says Outbreak Isn't Over Still
• 91,000 Pounds of Ground Turkey Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

What's far more important is the temperature of your freezer. In club to effectively impale whatever bacteria, 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 will always be safe to eat.

In fact, the main consequence for properly frozen food is freshness and quality. According to the FDA's freezer storage guidelines, the optimal storage fourth dimension for frozen ground beef is iii to iv months. The same goes for whatsoever type of basis meat, including hamburger meat and ground turkey, pork, veal, or chicken.

So, to answer the original question—aye, you technically can melt and eat the basis beef that'southward been sitting in your freezer, but that doesn't mean that you should. Instead, acquire the signs that your ground beef may exist past its prime and then you'll be able to tell if the flavor and texture have been compromised. According to the USDA's Freezing and Food Safety guide, iii potential signs to look for are freezer burn, color changes, and ice crystals.

With that said, don't run a risk serving your dinner guests subpar meatloaf. If you're worried, toss it out and lodge pizza instead. But the side by side time you purchase fresh footing beef, keep in mind that y'all can safely store it in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If yous aren't certain you'll use it within that time frame, it's best to go ahead and freeze it.

Basis Beef Freezing Tips

• Always characterization ground beef with the engagement and weight before freezing. Freeze large quantities of ground beef in half-pound or one-pound portions so you can defrost the exact amount you demand.
• Bank check the temperature of your freezer periodically to ensure that it's prepare to 0°F or colder. (If you don't own a freezer thermometer, you can order one from Amazon.)
• To preclude freezer burn, wrap the ground beef in wax newspaper or freezer paper.
• The safest style to thaw frozen basis beef is in the fridge. Never leave it on the countertop to thaw every bit this exposes it to the danger zone (40°F to 140°F), the temperature range where bacteria can grow. Melt or refreeze the beef inside 1 to 2 days.
• If you lose power, avert opening the freezer door. Depending on how full your freezer is, frozen food lasts for 1 to ii days (as long equally the door stays closed.)

Lastly, stay upward to date on nutrient recalls by subscribing to the Food Safety and Inspection Service'south email alerts. For big recalls like the recent ground beef one, become into the habit of double-checking your freezer for the affected nutrient, every bit this is an easy identify to overlook.

For more data on safe handling practices for raw and frozen ground beef, cheque out the USDA'southward Footing Beef and Food Rubber page.

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

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