How old is too old for frozen meat?

[Hunter65]

I have some moose from 2011, and elk from 2009. Still frozen, appears to be ok (both were given to me about a year ago). As long as it looks ok, which it does, I assume its still safe for consumption?

[Wild&Free]

If it looks 'dried out' it's most likely freezer burnt. Still safe for consumption (we've had 3 year old moose in the freezer before) but it's not the greatest table fare.

[AppleJax]

Lots of variables but if it looks normal and doesn't smell funny you should be okay. I would cook it thoroughly.

[flygirrl]

Meat pies for them

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Wild&Free

If it looks 'dried out' it's most likely freezer burnt. Still safe for consumption (we've had 3 year old moose in the freezer before) but it's not the greatest table fare.

^^^^^^

If it looks freezer burnt or smells freezer burnt, it is freezer burnt. It won't make you sick, but it won't taste too good. I just ate some 2009 moose that was great, vac sealed meat keeps good, if you don't eat it too often it's worth the extra $$$ to pack it that way.

[Hunter65]

Minor freezer burn and dried out, but otherwise seems ok. Through the grinder it is.

[TBark]

What Kurt said,
If its vacu-sealed, should be good for 3-4 yrs.

TBark

[leeaspell]

Just put some gravy on it and chow er down lol

[Red Bullets]

If it appears freezer burnt, you can trim off the freezer burn. The rest might taste better. If not salvagable, make some dog treats for your dog.

[Fisherpeak]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

If it appears freezer burnt, you can trim off the freezer burn. The rest might taste better. If not salvagable, make some dog treats for your dog.

Definatly trim the freezer burn off or you will end up with a pile of inedible garbage.All the freezer burn,one ounce can wreck the taste of twenty pounds.I`m real picky about what I eat.That`s why I always butcher my own meat.

[TRAPPER92]

Wow! meat don't last that long in our house!

[flyguyd]

Im stilll eating 2011 moose , and it is awesome

[avb3]

Last year I found some meat in the freezer which I thought I was saving to be made into sausages. I was wrong. It was deer steaks and roasts.

From 1997.

Now I'm not one to want to waste anything so with trepidation, I opened up one of the packets. the meat smells good. It looked good with just the smallest amount of freezer burn apparent. I pride myself the way I butcher and wrap my meat.

Still with trepidation, I decided to try this one steak. To my surprise it was not only perfectly edible, it was actually damn good. Out of the whole 20 some odd pounds of deer meat that I had in that garbage bag in the freezer, I probably had to throw away maybe half a pound of freezer burned trim.

I wouldn't recommend this as a common practice, however one can certainly keep meat that is well packaged a long, long time.

[stickflicker]

Remember when Holling Vincoeur found that frozen mammoth and butchered it with his chainsaw then served it up at the Brick?

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by Hunter65

I have some moose from 2011, and elk from 2009. Still frozen, appears to be ok (both were given to me about a year ago). As long as it looks ok, which it does, I assume its still safe for consumption?

Depends...do you mean by quality or safe to eat?

Quality is usually a few months... safe to eat... almost forever.
I generally try to have it consumed within a year.
If its freezer burned I trim it because of palatability issues but...you can eat freezer burned meat...although I don't know anyone that would.

[Mr Hawken]

The rule of thumb that I was brought up with was 1 year.If we couldn't eat what we had from last fall we shouldn't go hunting and shoot more.I still use that theory today.

[Junglefisher]

If it's a frost free freezer, I would not eat it past 6-12 months. A deep freeze / chest freezer will definately last for years.

[Faststeel]

Originally Posted by stickflicker

Remember when Holling Vincoeur found that frozen mammoth and butchered it with his chainsaw then served it up at the Brick?

I never knew how to spell Vincoeur, "Shelley I don't love you for your brains, I love you for your body" H

[Lefty-Canuck]

We have eaten game that was a couple three years old and it was fine. All depends on how it was wrapped and like someone mentioned if it is in a deep freeze.

LC

[Fisherpeak]

Originally Posted by stickflicker

Remember when Holling Vincoeur found that frozen mammoth and butchered it with his chainsaw then served it up at the Brick?

Actually it wasn`t Holling it was that weird well read ex stock market trader that was Ruths boyfriend.I loved that show.

[omega50]

I have a special box in the freezer especially for situations like this.
It is labelled " Friend Meat"

[ghostguy6]

Cut it up into strips, marinate a few days to rehydrate the freezer burn meat and make it into jerky. You will never know it was freezer burnt in the first place.

[FreeLantz]

I dug up some ground beef from 2006 buried in the freezer last year. Turned it into taco. Tasted %100 normal. Giver.

[Nocked]

Originally Posted by ghostguy6

Cut it up into strips, marinate a few days to rehydrate the freezer burn meat and make it into jerky. You will never know it was freezer burnt in the first place.

x2
Should make for some great jerky.