How Long Is Frozen Meat Good?

My sister Laura texts me every year asking if the two-year-old meat she just discovered in her freezer is still safe to eat.

This post is for you, Sis, so listen up. Haha.

According to USDA, frozen raw meat kept at or below 0 degrees, the ideal home freezer temperature, is safe to eat indefinitely.

But that doesn’t mean the quality is the same after two years.

According to USDA, a whole frozen chicken maintains its best quality for one year. And chicken parts maintain their best quality for 9 months.

Interestingly, nutrient quality does not diminish much during extended freezer time.

And freezer burned meat is still safe to eat, but just dry in those spots (hello stew!).

So, rest assured that the meat you found while cleaning out your freezer for the first time in two years is probably still great to make for your family dinner.

Its quality just may have decreased a bit. But as long as it’s remained frozen, it’s still safe to eat. And your kids won’t notice!

I’m no chef, but I’ve eaten frozen meat that’s at least 2 years old with still tasty results.