Freezing means eternal life? After this deadline, please "throw away" frozen meat!

Review expert: Peng Guoqiu, deputy chief physician of the Fourth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

In today's life, refrigerators are an indispensable appliance in every household. Many families also have freezers with only freezing functions to help store food and keep it for a longer time. However, many people have some misunderstandings about frozen meat in the refrigerator, thinking that as long as it is frozen, it will not spoil and can be eaten safely.

In fact, there is a time limit for freezing meat in the refrigerator. If it exceeds this time, even if the meat looks fresh, it may pose a safety hazard and is not recommended for consumption. Today, we will answer all your questions about frozen meat!

Freezing is safe but not permanent

If food is frozen for a long time, it will cause problems!

Freezing is a common method of food preservation in life. Its principle is to extend the shelf life of food by lowering the temperature, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, and slowing down the activity of enzymes. When meat or other food is placed in the freezer, the temperature drops rapidly, the water forms ice crystals, the activity of microorganisms is greatly restricted, and the catalytic action of enzymes becomes slow. But freezing does not mean that it can be preserved forever!

Freezing can inhibit the growth of microorganisms and the chemical reactions of food. In theory, frozen food can be stored indefinitely, but freezing will take away the moisture of the food, the fat and protein will slowly oxidize, and the vitamins will quietly decompose and lose. Meat that has been frozen for too long will leak moisture after thawing, causing the meat to become dry, rough, and lose its original tender taste.

Although freezing can inhibit the growth of microorganisms, it cannot completely kill them. Some low-temperature-resistant microorganisms will still slowly multiply under suitable conditions, causing meat to deteriorate. As the freezing time increases, the fat in the meat may oxidize, producing harmful substances such as free radicals and peroxides, posing a potential threat to human health.

What is the freezing period for different types of meat?

Wang Guoyi, a postdoctoral fellow in nutrition and food safety at China Agricultural University, once answered the question, "How long can frozen meat be kept?" The storage time of frozen meat is related to the storage temperature, the type of meat, and the freshness of the meat before freezing. Under ideal conditions, fresh and uncontaminated meat is quickly frozen below -25°C and stored at a constant temperature of -18°C. The shelf life of pork, beef, mutton and other livestock meat can reach 2 years. Poultry meat such as chicken and duck is not as stable as livestock meat, and the shelf life can reach 1 year. Fish and seafood products are easy to oxidize because they contain a lot of unsaturated fatty acids, and the shelf life is 6 months.

How to tell if frozen meat is still edible!

1. Observe the appearance

Fresh frozen meat is bright in color and has a shiny surface; if the meat is dark, yellow, or even has mold spots, it means it has deteriorated.

2. Check the smell

Normal frozen meat has no peculiar smell, only a faint meaty smell; if you smell sour, smelly or other abnormal odors, it means that the meat is no longer edible.

3. Touch Texture

When you press frozen meat with your hands, you will find that fresh meat is elastic and can quickly return to its original shape after being pressed; spoiled meat has poor elasticity and the marks left after being pressed are difficult to restore.

Proper freezing and thawing methods

1. Freezing

Divide the meat into appropriate small portions, wrap them in sealed bags or plastic wrap, remove excess air, mark the date and type, and then put them in the freezer.

2. Thawing

It is recommended to slowly thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator to preserve the quality and nutrition of the meat to the greatest extent. If time is tight, you can also use a microwave or cold water to thaw, but you need to pay attention to controlling the time and temperature to avoid over-thawing and causing the meat to deteriorate.

In order to protect the health of our family, we should understand the shelf life of frozen meat and store and eat meat properly. Don't store meat for a long time just for the sake of convenience. It is recommended to throw away meat that has passed the freezing period, even if it looks fresh. Only in this way can we ensure the safety and health of our diet while enjoying delicious food. Treating the frozen meat in the refrigerator correctly and paying attention to its shelf life and quality changes is a manifestation of our responsibility for the health of ourselves and our families. Let us develop good eating habits in our daily lives, starting from every detail, and take care of our health.