Lubbock, How Long Has That Food Been Sitting in Your Freezer?

There are two types of people in this world: those who meticulously label and date everything they put in their fridge and freezer, and those who prefer to play everyone's favorite guessing game: What Gave Me Diarrhea? 

If you fall into the second category, we need to talk.

The good news? Frozen food doesn't automatically become dangerous just because it's been crammed in the back of your freezer for months. According to FoodSafety.gov, food kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below continuously can actually be safe to eat indefinitely. The taste and texture, however, can most definitely deteriorate over time.

So, how long should you keep something frozen for the best overall quality?

• Ground beef - 3 to 4 months
• Steak and roast - 4 to 12 months
• Uncooked chicken - 9 months

Frozen leftovers have a recommended storage time of two to six months, depending on what they are.

If you want specific recommendations, you can find them in the official freezer storage guidelines.

Read More: How Safe Is Texas, Really, Compared To Other States

What's the deal with freezer burn?

Those funky little dried-out patches do NOT automatically mean the food is unsafe to eat, but they will likely affect the experience. They may be unpleasant to eat, but that doesn't mean they will make you sick.

If your freezer loses power and the food thaws out, that's a whole other ballgame. You can always check the USDA's freezing and food safety guidelines if you're feeling iffy about something, just to be safe.

An Assignment For You...

Open up that freezer and investigate.

Buy yourself some little sticky food labels.

Date all of your leftovers.

Get rid of anything questionable before you're gnawing on chewy ice cream.

If you come across something you genuinely cannot identify, toss it.

You can do it. I believe in you.