Your freezer is likely packed with various foods, including vegetables, fruit, ice cream, meat, and prepared foods just waiting to be thawed and cooked.
If you notice that the date on the frozen food package has already passed, you may be wondering if that food is still safe to eat.
The good news is that you can eat frozen food that has passed its expiration date — although in some cases, the flavor, color, or texture may have decreased in quality.
This article explains everything you need to know about eating frozen food past the expiration date.
Understanding expiration dates on frozen food
An expiration date is somewhat of a myth. In the United States, manufacturers can include a variety of dates on food products, but the only food that is mandated to include a product date is infant formula.
The regulations for food product dating vary by country, with some countries prohibiting the sale of foods past the product date.
Here are some types of product dates you might see on your food
- “Best if used by” or “use by”: the date that the product is expected to maintain its highest quality
- “Sell by”: the date that a store should try to sell the product by so that it’s purchased while the food still has top flavor and quality
- “Freeze by”: when a food should be frozen to maintain top flavor and quality
None of these dates are actual expiration dates or indicate that the food will no longer be safe to eat at that time.
Freezing food is an excellent way to maintain the nutritional value, quality, and flavor of many foods.
Unlike perishable foods stored in the refrigerator, frozen foods are often safe long after the use-by date. Storing food at 0 °F deactivates microbes (bacteria) that could cause spoilage.
However, if the freezer is opened often and foods are allowed to reach temperatures higher than 0°F, the chances of spoilage increase.
While food can safely be eaten past the expiration date, some foods may decrease in quality and flavor after too much time in the freezer.
SUMMARY
In the United States, food manufacturers add dates to products to indicate food’s freshness, but labeling regulations vary by country. Freezing food often keeps it safe to eat long after the use-by date.
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