Once vacuum sealed, what’s the oldest piece of meat you’ve cooked? Wife thinks I’m crazy for digging this out of the chest freezer. Probably 3-4 years old and looks tasty to me.
by Every_Zone_57
22 Comments
chimpyjnuts
I know I’ve done 3 years, not sure about 4. If it still looks good like that I think it would be fine. Maybe not ideal.
plutz_net
In the freezer, 4 years easily. Its texture may change but it’s not spoiled.
Itchy_Professor_4133
Kept frozen, looks good, no problem
matt71vh
FYI, you can age the steak in the fridge while seeled and it really improves the texture. I often age steaks for 2 weeks and they are excellent.
xtraoral
Frozen vac sealed easy 4 or 5 years. I have done store wrapped turkey after 3 no problem.
UsualBluebird6584
If there is 9 air or close, many years, like 5ish.
Bushido_Plan
A very long time, assuming the seal is still good and the freezer has been operating 24/7 (so no power outages) and doesn’t have frequent temperature fluctuation (meaning you don’t open and close the chest freezer multiple times every day). After thawing just do a quick eye and smell test to make sure. Should still be good, though texture won’t be great, assuming it has been properly sealed and frozen all this time.
For reference in my province though, the general recommended time is to consume within 12 months for best texture, regardless of whether it’s frozen in vacuum seal or wrapped in butcher paper. Will it last even longer especially in a vacuum sealed package? Absolutely.
GrouchyName5093
Depends on the freezer. How cold will it get? Is it a chest freezer which means it will probably have manual cycling or is it a regular freezer that cycles to defrost itself?
If held around -10 f stable you shouldn’t see any impact on flavor or texture until after 12-18 months.
If it’s been frozen that whole time it’s safe. The texture may just be off. The flavor too. Even in a vacuum bag over years things still change.
East-Cauliflower-944
1 year
RareAndSaucy
I’ve cooked two year old stuff, nothing wrong with
FamiliarDirection946
They eat mammoth when they find it frozen bro. Ice makes time stand still
Wierd_chef7952
Let your eyes and nose be your guide when you defrost in the fridge and open it
Moosplauze
Bruh, I thought you’re at a cemetery and are thinking about burying a steak with a loved one.
Vesalii
This will probably taste incredibly stale. I ate some year old sausage a while back and the taste was way off.
-simply-complicated
Once it’s frozen, it isn’t going to deteriorate while under a vacuum seal. I wouldn’t worry about 2 or 3 years as long as it’s been solid the whole time.
Edit: I will add that if you regularly keep vacuum-sealed items for an extended time, you might want to spend a little more for higher-quality (i.e. thicker) bags vs. the standard FoodSaver bags.
XxFexGamingxX
Butcher here, for safety concerns and / or to protect the quality of the meat. i recommend not freezing it longer than a year. Let alone 4. When you defrost it, if it smells like cardboard or smells stale, I wouldn’t recommend eating it.
pastryfiend
I made a pork roast that got lost in the bottom of the freezer, the seal was still tight and I bet it was a few years old, tasted great, couldn’t detect any degradation.
ElectronicTrade7039
Looks good to me, I’d smash.
thiscanadianguy83
Looks perfect still, some people have no idea what they are talking about.
ConstantIntrepid
Years if it’s a good seal, which it looks like it is.
FloppyVachina
Forever as long as it stays frozen in a chest freezer. Not a freezer that cycles though.
RemoteLucky4945
Looks good, and thanks for the reminder. I have two 42 day dry aged ribeyes (done at home), which have been vac sealed and frozen a bit over 2 years. Should probably get them out and enjoy sooner than later. 😂👍🏻
22 Comments
I know I’ve done 3 years, not sure about 4. If it still looks good like that I think it would be fine. Maybe not ideal.
In the freezer, 4 years easily. Its texture may change but it’s not spoiled.
Kept frozen, looks good, no problem
FYI, you can age the steak in the fridge while seeled and it really improves the texture. I often age steaks for 2 weeks and they are excellent.
Frozen vac sealed easy 4 or 5 years. I have done store wrapped turkey after 3 no problem.
If there is 9 air or close, many years, like 5ish.
A very long time, assuming the seal is still good and the freezer has been operating 24/7 (so no power outages) and doesn’t have frequent temperature fluctuation (meaning you don’t open and close the chest freezer multiple times every day). After thawing just do a quick eye and smell test to make sure. Should still be good, though texture won’t be great, assuming it has been properly sealed and frozen all this time.
For reference in my province though, the general recommended time is to consume within 12 months for best texture, regardless of whether it’s frozen in vacuum seal or wrapped in butcher paper. Will it last even longer especially in a vacuum sealed package? Absolutely.
Depends on the freezer. How cold will it get? Is it a chest freezer which means it will probably have manual cycling or is it a regular freezer that cycles to defrost itself?
If held around -10 f stable you shouldn’t see any impact on flavor or texture until after 12-18 months.
If it’s been frozen that whole time it’s safe. The texture may just be off. The flavor too. Even in a vacuum bag over years things still change.
1 year
I’ve cooked two year old stuff, nothing wrong with
They eat mammoth when they find it frozen bro. Ice makes time stand still
Let your eyes and nose be your guide when you defrost in the fridge and open it
Bruh, I thought you’re at a cemetery and are thinking about burying a steak with a loved one.
This will probably taste incredibly stale. I ate some year old sausage a while back and the taste was way off.
Once it’s frozen, it isn’t going to deteriorate while under a vacuum seal. I wouldn’t worry about 2 or 3 years as long as it’s been solid the whole time.
Edit: I will add that if you regularly keep vacuum-sealed items for an extended time, you might want to spend a little more for higher-quality (i.e. thicker) bags vs. the standard FoodSaver bags.
Butcher here, for safety concerns and / or to protect the quality of the meat. i recommend not freezing it longer than a year. Let alone 4. When you defrost it, if it smells like cardboard or smells stale, I wouldn’t recommend eating it.
I made a pork roast that got lost in the bottom of the freezer, the seal was still tight and I bet it was a few years old, tasted great, couldn’t detect any degradation.
Looks good to me, I’d smash.
Looks perfect still, some people have no idea what they are talking about.
Years if it’s a good seal, which it looks like it is.
Forever as long as it stays frozen in a chest freezer. Not a freezer that cycles though.
Looks good, and thanks for the reminder. I have two 42 day dry aged ribeyes (done at home), which have been vac sealed and frozen a bit over 2 years. Should probably get them out and enjoy sooner than later. 😂👍🏻