How Long Is Frozen Bake frozen hamburger patties Good For? Contrary to popular belief, freezer burn is safe to eat — but it can also be prevented.

We head to the grocery store to pick up a few things, only to see that there’s a sale on our favorite meats. If you’re like many people who love a good sale, you stock your cart with raw chicken, steak, or even breakfast meats in an effort to save yourself both time and money in the long run. Whether you ask these questions in-store or at home when shuffling through your freezer and finding a tucked away pack of steaks, the topic of frozen meats is one that may deliver different answers depending on who you ask. F will always be safe, the quality of the food once defrosted can still suffer over time.

It may not make you sick, but it won’t necessarily taste like freshly-cooked meat, either. So, to help you stay on track and make sure you’re making the most of your freezer space, we’ve broken down what you should keep in mind when it comes to freezing both raw and cooked meat, poultry, seafood, and more. While lengthy freezer storage can affect the quality of any food, it’s also worth noting that raw meat and poultry maintain their quality longer than cooked meat and poultry do. This is because of the moisture lost during the cooking process. F or lower to retain the color, vitamin content, texture, and — of course — flavor. But what about actually storing meat? Can it be tucked away in its original packaging?

Can meat go bad in the freezer? Freezing meat is a simple and effective way to stock up on your protein of choice, and meat doesn’t technically “go bad” while in the freezer. As the USDA website states, “Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. How to defrost meat safely Keep in mind that your thawing process affects the freshness of your meat, too. As the USDA cautions, never thaw foods out on the kitchen counter or in your garage, basement, car, outdoors, or on the porch.