[Source: Xiaoxiang Morning News]
You can rummage through the refrigerator to see if there is any meat in your refrigerator that has been "sleeping" for several years? Is there any meat that has been frozen over and over again? Is there any "antique meat" or "zombie meat" that has been frozen for a long time?
In today's life, the refrigerator is an indispensable electrical appliance in every household, and many families will also be equipped with freezers with only freezing functions to help store food and achieve the purpose of putting food for more time. However, there are some misconceptions about frozen meat in the refrigerator, thinking that as long as it is frozen all the time, it will not spoil and can be eaten with confidence. In fact, there is a time limit for freezing meat in the refrigerator, and if it exceeds this time, even if the meat looks quite fresh, it may be a safety hazard and is not recommended to eat. Today, I will help you answer all your questions about frozen meat!
Freezing is safe, but it is not permanent
If you freeze for a long time, there will be problems with food!
Freezing is a relatively common food preservation method in life, its principle is to reduce the temperature, inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, slow down the activity of enzymes, so as to extend the shelf life of food. When meat or other food is placed in the freezer, the temperature drops rapidly, the water forms ice crystals, the activity of microorganisms is greatly restricted, and the catalytic action of enzymes becomes slow. But freezing doesn't mean it lasts forever!
Freezing inhibits the reproduction of microorganisms and the chemical reactions of food itself. Theoretically, frozen food can indeed be stored indefinitely, but freezing will take away the moisture of the food, fat and protein will slowly oxidize, and vitamins will be quietly broken down and lost. Meat that has been frozen for too long will seep out after thawing, causing the meat to become dry and rough, and lose its original tender taste.
While freezing can inhibit the growth of microorganisms, it does not kill them completely. Some microorganisms that tolerate low temperatures can multiply slowly under the right conditions, causing meat to spoil. As the freezing time is extended, the fat in the meat may oxidize, producing harmful substances such as free radicals and peroxides, which pose a potential threat to human health.
What is the freezing period for different types of meat?
Wang Guoyi, a postdoctoral fellow in nutrition and food safety at China Agricultural University, once answered the question of "how long can frozen meat last": the storage time of frozen meat is not only related to the storage temperature, but also related to the variety of meat and the freshness of the meat before freezing. Frozen meat in an ideal state, that is, fresh and pollution-free meat is quickly frozen below minus 25 °C, stored at a constant temperature of minus 18 °C, pork, beef and mutton and other livestock meat have a shelf life of up to 2 years, chicken, duck and other poultry meat properties are not as stable as animal meat, the shelf life can reach 1 year, fish, seafood products are easy to oxidize because they contain a large number of unsaturated fatty acids, and the shelf life is 6 months.
How to tell if frozen meat is still edible!
1. Observe the appearance
Fresh frozen meat is bright in color and has a shiny surface; If the color of the meat is dark, yellow, or even mildew, it means that it has gone bad.
2. Check the smell
Normal frozen meat has no peculiar smell, only a faint smell of flesh; If you smell sour, foul, or other unusual odors, the meat is no longer edible.
3. Touch texture
Press the frozen meat by hand, the fresh meat is elastic and can quickly return to its original shape after pressing; Spoiled meat has poor elasticity, and it is difficult to recover the marks left after pressing.
Proper freezing and thawing methods
1. Freezing
Divide the meat into small portions, wrap them in a sealed bag or plastic wrap, remove excess air, mark the date and type, and put them in the freezer.
2. Defrost
It is recommended to defrost frozen meat slowly in the refrigerator compartment to preserve the quality and nutrition of the meat to the greatest extent. If you are pressed for time, you can also use a microwave oven to thaw or defrost in cold water, but you need to be careful to control the time and temperature to avoid over-thawing and causing the meat to spoil.
In order to protect the health of our families, we should understand the shelf life of frozen meat, and store and eat meat reasonably. Don't store meat for a long time for convenience, and it is recommended to throw away meat that has passed the freezer period, even if it looks fresh. Only in this way can we enjoy the food while ensuring a safe and healthy diet. Treating frozen meat in the refrigerator correctly, paying attention to its shelf life and quality changes, is a sign that we are responsible for our own health and that of our families. Let's develop good eating habits in our daily life, starting from every detail to take care of the health of the body.
Source: Digital Beijing Science Center
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