how long to keep frozen meat

[ving-thorr]

How long can you safely/tastily keep frozen game meat?

[hfcable]

because of the lower fat content, it remains 'tasty', in my experience, for several years, unlike beef. it probably remains safe almost indefinitely, though you might not want to eat it.

[Tycer]

As long as it is not freezer burned it does good IMO. I pack in saran wrap with no air and then foil. I've pulled things out four years later that have been fine flavor and texture wise.

[harry]

I wouldn't know but after 1 year, I grind all of mine up into burger and make jerky out of it to take hunting and such. I don't have room in two freezers to carry over year to year.

[ving-thorr]

thanks for the info guys. i have some mule deer left that's just over a year, and it didn't seem right to pitch it. glad i can save it. thanks!

[alnitak]

As long as it is not freezer burned it does good IMO. I pack in saran wrap with no air and then foil. I've pulled things out four years later that have been fine flavor and texture wise.

Same way I treat mine. I've read that frozen meat will keep indefinitely. If a little freezer burn does get on it, it's easy enough to cut/scrape off.

[Don McDowell]

We dug up some elk from back in the 90's out of the bottom of the freezer.. it was fine.
If meat is properly wrapped and the freezer never had any thawing out, it'll last a long long time.

[stew71]

thanks for the info guys. i have some mule deer left that's just over a year, and it didn't seem right to pitch it. glad i can save it. thanks!

Grind it, add a bit of pork or beef for some extra fat, add whatever seasonings you like, and make burgers.

[El Chivo]

I have a self-defrosting freezer that actually lets things thaw out a little and then re-freezes them, it deteriorated the meat in about 8 months.

Later I tried a tip from a Levergunner to keep the meat in a block of ice. The water on the outside dealt with the defrosting, but inside it stayed solid. This meat was in much better condition but I finished it within a year.

What I did was put meat in small bags, squeezed out the air, then put the small bags in larger bags which I filled with water.

[Ji in Hawaii]

If it's vacuum packed it'll stay nice indefinitely. I read where in Siberia they dug up a 10,000 year old frozen Wooly Mammoth and was able to thaw out the meat and eat it. It still had fresh frozen greens in it's mouth.

[Sixgun]

My inlaws are custom butchers and they recommend double wrapping the meat. Like others have said, even if a little freezer burn gets on it, just cut that part off. --------6

[Meeteetse]

I like to double wrap using butcher paper. Lately I have been single wrapping and then using one of those machines that suck all the air out and seals it. Works really well. I have no idea how long it will last, but my stuff never seems to have any ill effects from being frozen.

[FWiedner]

As long as it is not freezer burned it does good IMO. I pack in saran wrap with no air and then foil. I've pulled things out four years later that have been fine flavor and texture wise.

Same way I treat mine. I've read that frozen meat will keep indefinitely. If a little freezer burn does get on it, it's easy enough to cut/scrape off.

Folks are too picky.

G_d gave us chili, and I think that we should use it.

[DerekR]

I started using a Food Saver vacuum sealer a few years ago. Meat two years old has no freezer burn and taste great.

[3leggedturtle]

If it's vacuum packed it'll stay nice indefinitely. I read where in Siberia they dug up a 10,000 year old frozen Wooly Mammoth and was able to thaw out the meat and eat it. It still had fresh frozen greens in it's mouth.

I remember that. Didn't "people" pay a lot of money to have a meal of Mammoth. Or was a raffled event. Guess I'll be googling tonite.

[olyinaz]

I have a self-defrosting freezer that actually lets things thaw out a little and then re-freezes them, it deteriorated the meat in about 8 months.

Later I tried a tip from a Levergunner to keep the meat in a block of ice. The water on the outside dealt with the defrosting, but inside it stayed solid. This meat was in much better condition but I finished it within a year.

What I did was put meat in small bags, squeezed out the air, then put the small bags in larger bags which I filled with water.

I'm pretty sure you can set your temp a bit lower to help mitigate damage due to the defrost cycle. The walls of the fridge will get warm for a bit to nip the frost away, but if the food is colder to begin with it may not thaw on the outside at all. Also, keep your long term storage meets in a central place, away from the walls of the freezer.

Oly

[Tycer]

Keep your freezer full, even if it's empty milk cartons.

[elmo123]

Back in the 90's when I was a police officer I responded to a sick case where a man in his 60's was violently ill and doubled over in pain. He told the medics that he had eaten lunch a little earlier in the day and had hamburgers cooked by his wife who was also present. I asked her where she had purchased the meat and she replied that she had taken it out of the freezer that day, she told me that it had been in the freezer for about five years. She had a salad for lunch and was fine.

[damienph]

We have beef that we have had in the freezer for two plus years. Double wrapped, and kept frozen, I have never had any problems. I believe that it could go longer but personally have never kept any longer. I have never had any problem with freezer burn in 2 1/2 years either.

[FWiedner]

Back in the 90's when I was a police officer I responded to a sick case where a man in his 60's was violently ill and doubled over in pain. He told the medics that he had eaten lunch a little earlier in the day and had hamburgers cooked by his wife who was also present. I asked her where she had purchased the meat and she replied that she had taken it out of the freezer that day, she told me that it had been in the freezer for about five years. She had a salad for lunch and was fine.

I'd bet money that it wasn't frozen the whole time.