The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only—frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely.
According to the USDA, meat stored ay 0 degrees or below is safe indefinitely, but loses quality over time.
The recommended freezer temperature to keep food safe is at or below 0°F (-18°C), making higher temperatures less reliable for long-term freezer storage. However, freezer temperatures may need to be adjusted by a few degrees to account for factors like location, humidity or outside temperatures.
The ideal temperature for freezing meat is between -18 and -23 degrees Celsius (0 to -9 degrees Fahrenheit), as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for safe and optimal storage. At 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat will not be at a safe temperature for storage.
Frozen meat remains safe to eat indefinitely, as long as it was safe to eat before freezing, of course. But the flavor and texture may degrade over time. It won't make you sick, but it may not taste as good as you'd like.
Color Changes. Color changes can occur in frozen foods. The bright red color of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown depending on its variety. This may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn or abnormally long storage.
Does Frozen Meat “Go Bad?” According to the USDA, frozen meat kept at 0°F or lower will always technically be safe to eat. This low temperature prevents the growth of microorganisms and microbes like bacteria and mold. But that doesn't mean it will taste good forever.
To store frozen foods at best quality, keep the freezer set to maintain zero (0 °F or -17.8 °C). Some combination refrigerator-freezers cannot keep the freezer air that cold. As long as foods are solidly frozen, they will stay safe.
Freezer burn is a term for the moisture lost from frozen food. It's what happens when meat left in your freezer for a long time loses moisture and begins to look discolored or shriveled. The surface may be covered in ice crystals. When you thaw foods that look like this, you'll notice that their texture appears tough.
Although freezing temperatures will prevent Listeria bacteria from growing, they don't kill the bacteria, Chapman said. The microbes survive in the freezer, he said.
If your freezer is not cold, the problem may be caused by a broken condenser fan motor. The condenser fan draws cool air through the condenser and over your freezer's coils. If this fan is broken, your freezer's inner temperature will rise, and the compressor will overheat.
Is It OK for Your Freezer To Be Set at 10 Degrees? Setting your freezer to 10 degrees Fahrenheit is generally not recommended for long-term food storage. Food stored at this temperature is at a higher risk of spoilage and freezer burn, as well as the growth of bacteria and other pathogens.
Whilst it is recommended to keep your freezer below -18 degrees Celsius, it is important to not drop the temperature too low. Although 4-star freezers can operate down to -25°C, over time foods frozen at this temperature may start to dry out, causing freezer burn or a loss in quality.
Two hours is the limit for keeping food safe outside the refrigerator or freezer; one hour if the outside temperature is 90 °F ( 32.2 °C) or above. Frozen food can thaw if it is exposed to the sun's rays even when the temperature is very cold.
Is It Safe to Eat Freezer-Burned Food? You might be inclined to toss your food, but USDA officials say that any food affected by freezer burn is safe to eat. While your steak may taste a little “off”, you won't actually be at any greater risk for foodborne illness.
What Causes Frozen Meat To Go Bad? Frozen meat can go bad, but it's usually due to an issue with packaging, storage temperature, or the age of items in the freezer.
What happens to meat that's frozen too long? Food that is stored in a freezer at zero degrees will be safe to eat indefinitely.
When the surface of the meat comes into contact with oxygen, it turns red. When the meat has no oxygen exposure, it changes to a gray-brown hue.
Food poisoning bacteria rapidly grows at temperatures between 5°C and 60°C (the temperature danger zone). Minimise the time that food is stored at these temperatures to keep food safe.
The temperature of a freezer should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit so everything stays very cold. A freezer should be cold enough to keep food frozen and preserve it until they are ready to be cooked or reheated.
Leave the freezer door closed. Frozen foods that have reached temperatures of 40 °F and above for more than two hours are not safe to eat. Discard these items.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
According to the USDA, frozen foods are safe to eat indefinitely.
Never keep meat at room temperature for more than two hours. Once you've thawed frozen meat, you can't refreeze it unless it's in a stock, soup or liquid. If you have frozen meat you want to cook today, there is a faster way to thaw: the "cold water" method. Keep the chopped or ground meat wrapped tight.