How long can I keep Ground Turkey in the Freezer for??

[thatsright]

Hi All. Every week I keep on telling myself to take out the frozen ground turkey I bought a while ago, and fry it up and put in my Spaghetti sauce. Well I totally forgot how long ago I got it, and I was pretty surprised that the 'Sell By Date: May 05, 2003' date was on it.

As soon as I bought it I put it in the freezer, and I would guess this would be toward's the end of last April 2003.

so anyone have an idea of how long I can keep this stuff in the freezer before it 'goes bad?' Has it already, should I throw it out? It's been in there 5 months frozen, so I'm not too sure.

Thanks

 

[Viper GTS]

It will be fine.

Viper GTS

 

[minendo]

It won't spoil in the freezer. The quality will however degrade due to water loss during cooking.

 

[Electric Amish]

As long as it stayed frozen the whole time there's no worry.

I've eaten ground beef that's over 2 years old that has been frozen.

 

[slycat]

forever.

u can't eat it though.

 

[Carbo]

Hold on! You're putting ground turkey in spaghetti sauce? Stay the hell out of my kitchen.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: Carbo
Hold on! You're putting ground turkey in spaghetti sauce? Stay the hell out of my kitchen.

Sure whats wrong with that Julia Child? I just thought it's more 'healthy' than putting somewhat more, fatty ground beef in the sauce. Maybe I'm wrog about this?

Also, will the freezer burn leave the stuff totally tasteless?

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: Carbo
Hold on! You're putting ground turkey in spaghetti sauce? Stay the hell out of my kitchen.

Sure whats wrong with that Julia Child? I just thought it's more 'healthy' than putting somewhat more, fatty ground beef in the sauce. Maybe I'm wrog about this?

Also, will the freezer burn leave the stuff totally tasteless?

Generally not tasteless. It usually makes it taste like crap.

 

[Carbo]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: Carbo
Hold on! You're putting ground turkey in spaghetti sauce? Stay the hell out of my kitchen.

Sure whats wrong with that Julia Child? I just thought it's more 'healthy' than putting somewhat more, fatty ground beef in the sauce. Maybe I'm wrog about this?

Also, will the freezer burn leave the stuff totally tasteless?

Yes, Emeril, you are wrog, er, wrong about this. Get some beef and pork goin' in that sauce. Have some flavor, have some pleasure, attract women.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Also, will the freezer burn leave the stuff totally tasteless?

The meat will be good for years, but freezer burn will likely set in after 3-6 months (depending on how well it was wrapped. Freezer burn doesn't remove the taste of food, but adds a distinctive (and unplesant) taste. Sure you can eat it, but it will not be nearly as good after freezer burn has set it. The taste is hard to describe but it is somewhat of a stale mustyness and almost a hint of metal flavors. Open up the package, are there an excessive number of ice crystals inside? Has the meat changed color significantly from what you'd expect it to be (often it turns a bit darker)? Is there a musty odor? If any are yes, then I'd just toss it.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: thatsright
Also, will the freezer burn leave the stuff totally tasteless?

The meat will be good for years, but freezer burn will likely set in after 3-6 months (depending on how well it was wrapped. Freezer burn doesn't remove the taste of food, but adds a distinctive (and unplesant) taste. Sure you can eat it, but it will not be nearly as good after freezer burn has set it. The taste is hard to describe but it is somewhat of a stale mustyness and almost a hint of metal flavors. Open up the package, are there an excessive number of ice crystals inside? Has the meat changed color significantly from what you'd expect it to be (often it turns a bit darker)? Is there a musty odor? If any are yes, then I'd just toss it.

Yeah, the stuff was covered in Ice crystals when I took it out. It looked like snow was on top. And the color seemed to be a bit whiter than I recall. OTOH, I did put the stuff in a Zip Lock bag back in April. But again, OTOH I think I will just toss it. After all the Shi!&Shop where I bought this stuff always has ground turkey on sale anyway. Buy 1, get 1 free type deal.

Thanks guys.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Carbo

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: Carbo
Hold on! You're putting ground turkey in spaghetti sauce? Stay the hell out of my kitchen.

Sure whats wrong with that Julia Child? I just thought it's more 'healthy' than putting somewhat more, fatty ground beef in the sauce. Maybe I'm wrog about this?

Also, will the freezer burn leave the stuff totally tasteless?

Yes, Emeril, you are wrog, er, wrong about this. Get some beef and pork goin' in that sauce. Have some flavor, have some pleasure, attract women.

Hmmm the women that are big beef and pork eaters that I have seen you can keep.

I like ground turkey, I like ground beef and pork too.

So far I haven't met one person that didn't switch to Ground turkey after eating one of my meals. Like any meat you have poor quality and high quality .... buy cheap turkey and it's probably the bird's @$$.

<nutty professor>Turkey sausage, who in the hell makes sausage from a turkey....that just ain't right.....</nutty professor> that's good too though, and turkey pepperoni.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: slycat
forever.

u can't eat it though.

you beat me.