Frozen Food Useby Dates

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 6,715

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  03/01/08 - 19:04 #2

  I have something that's been in the freezer for 3 months but says to use within 1 month. I will use it soon, but I agree it seems odd to me too.
  
  I was going to suggest it could be the way they're frozen - stuff thats bought is flash frozen, but I don't see how that will make such a huge difference, and 1 month in the freezer isn't a long time is it?

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 14,815

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  03/01/08 - 20:17 #3

  It's funny, I bought something from Tesco today which said freeze on day of purchase and use within 1 month, and I thought "why?" Seems weird when you can buy stuff that is already frozen, and it has a three month date normally. Must be a good reason I suppose.

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• Quickblood Posts: 1,077

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  03/01/08 - 23:18 #4

  I suspect it's down to what the freezer does. Freezing food only slows down the bacteria. So where factory frozen food has been temperature controlled more carefully for longer the growth is probably minimal but the stuff you buy from the shops is only chilled so is closer to being 'off' and won't last as long in the freezer.
  
  I guess it's also possible that it has something to do with mince surface area. It's exposed to more bacteria that's why were advised to cook it thoroughly while we can eat steak rare.
  
  That's my guess anyway.

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• molley Posts: 25,674

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  04/01/08 - 00:05 #5

  Quickblood wrote: »

  I suspect it's down to what the freezer does. Freezing food only slows down the bacteria. So where factory frozen food has been temperature controlled more carefully for longer the growth is probably minimal but the stuff you buy from the shops is only chilled so is closer to being 'off' and won't last as long in the freezer.
  
  I guess it's also possible that it has something to do with mince surface area. It's exposed to more bacteria that's why were advised to cook it thoroughly while we can eat steak rare.
  
  That's my guess anyway.

  
  Could be .There ian awful lot of surface area in a pun of mince .

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• grassmarket Posts: 33,010

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  04/01/08 - 10:05 #6

  I think it's dangerous to mess with the use-by dates on frozen produce, I wouldn't do it. Use-by dates on tins, pickles, dried foods etc are pretty arbitrary and can be broken safely, but not frozen.

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• molley Posts: 25,674

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  04/01/08 - 11:08 #7

  grassmarket wrote: »

  I think it's dangerous to mess with the use-by dates on frozen produce, I wouldn't do it. Use-by dates on tins, pickles, dried foods etc are pretty arbitrary and can be broken safely, but not frozen.

  
  Personally I wasn't suggesting that anyone messes with the useby dates .I was just wanting an answer as to why some frozen things can be kept for years and others only for a month ( as in fresh mince frozen)

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