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Nutrition Diva host Monica Reinagel is a board-certified Licensed Nutritionist and a professionally-trained chef. She has authored four books on health and nutrition and her advice is regularly featured on television, radio, on the web, and in the nation’s leading newspapers and magazines. Monica is also a professional opera singer who regularly dresses up in outlandish costumes, steps onto a stage, and rips off an aria or two.

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How Long Frozen Food Lasts

June 16, 2010
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Ask the Diva: How Long Does Frozen Food Keep?

Q. I eat a lot of frozen meals for lunch. I would really like to be able to reduce my spending and waste (plastic and cardboard) by making food at home and freezing it in lunch-sized portions. How long can I keep something I made at home in the freezer before it goes bad?

A. Assuming that your freezer is cold enough (0 degrees Fahrenheit), food can be safely frozen indefinitely. However, the nutritional quality (as well as the palatability) may start to decline after two or three months. For more detailed information, see this USDA guide: Freezing and Food Safety.

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Ivan
12/9/2011 7:17:39 PM

I have an issue with saying food frozen at <= -18°C is safe *indefinitely*.

It's a long period of time, sure, but not *forever*. The low temperature doesn't completely stop microorganisms (mo), it slows mo down to a crawl, but even a snail reaches it goal eventually.

The USDA guide says:
"Freezing preserves food for extended periods because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness."

'extended periods of time' is a better term and 'prevents the growth of mo' is meant as 'strongly reduces it' but it doesn't stop it altogether.

I've been told several times by professors that freezing doesn't stop mo growth.
Also mo and proteins slowly degrade in -20°C and even in -80°C freezers. It just takes long.

I'm nitpicking. Totally. But there might be the one person who digs that 12 year old casserole out of the freezer... =)

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How Long Frozen Food Lasts

Ask the Diva: How Long Does Frozen Food Keep?

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