I know “use by” and “best by” dates aren’t set in stone- it’s okay to drink milk a day or 2 past the expiration date- but let’s pretend for a minute that they are set and definite.
Let’s say I buy a package of steaks on July 1 and the expiration date is July 15. I put them in the freezer as soon as I get home, and leave them there until August 1st. Is the expiration now August 15? Or do I need to use them as quickly as possible?
I’m not potentially going to expose myself to foodborne illnesses, it’s just a question that’s sat in the back of my mind for a while.
In: Other
You can think of it like pausing the expiration, so if it was 4 days off spoiling before freezing then it will be 4 days off spoiling once you unthaw it. Although this is a very simple way to view it and it is not always accurate.
Bacteria are completely stopped at freezing, however some enzymes in the food continue to slowly spoil the food over time while freezing, so it is best to freeze food when it is already very fresh, rather than food that is near spoiling, and it might even be dangerous to freeze food close to its expiration date and letting it sit for a long time
Latest Answers