How Long Can You Leave Frozen Ground Beef in the Freezer?
Question: I have some ground beef that's been in my freezer for about a year. Is it still safe? If not, how long can you leave frozen fround beef in the freezer?
Answer: From a safety perspective you have nothing to worry about - ground beef that has been in the freezer for a year will still be safe to eat. But the quality will likely have suffered.
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes, foods kept constantly frozen at 0°F or lower will keep safe indefinitely.
But bear in mind that while your frozen ground beef may remain safe forever, the same can’t be said for its quality. Over time, all frozen foods will eventually start to go downhill when it comes to texture, flavor and taste.
In the case of whole ground beef, you’ll enjoy the best quality if you eat it within 3 or 4 months as detailed here.
Since your ground beef has now been frozen for a year, you’re likely going to experience some dryness and loss of flavor. So using the ground beef for hamburgers may result in disappointment. Instead, you might want to opt for cooking the ground beef first and then using it in a cooked dish, such as a casserole.
