Throw It Out
Here is a quick question for the readers, "Do you eat food after the expiration date?" Here is another question, "What is the storage life of frozen meat?" Just asking, because I usually toss food before the "Use By" or "Freeze By" dates. I am not taking any chances.
I am sure this has been discussed 100 times over, so I thought I would read what others are saying. The responses for refrigerated food vary from a couple days to a couple weeks past the expiration date.
Screw that, I do not need food poisoning or Chernobyl-like runs. Hmmm, what about frozen meat or food? It depends on the types of food, but I read responses stating the storage life is from a couple weeks to over a year.
I am not going to jack my health based on amateur responses, so what does the USDA have to say about this topic? Below is an excerpt about frozen food storage life, but check the USDA website for more information. I guess I need to revisit this, ha!
Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Refer to the freezer storage chart at the end of this document, which lists optimum freezing times for best quality.
If a food is not listed on the chart, you may determine its quality after defrosting. First check the odor. Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded. Some may not look picture perfect or be of high enough quality to serve alone but may be edible; use them to make soups or stews. Cook raw food and if you like the taste and texture, use it.