One of the most contentious debates in Britain revolves around whether we should strictly adhere to food expiry dates.
This question becomes even more complex when it comes to frozen food, with many wondering if items can be stored for months without spoiling. If this is a question that has been on your mind, worry no more, as a doctor has finally provided clarity on the matter.
Dr Karan Raj, known as @dr.karanr on TikTok, is renowned for sharing useful health tips online and he recently shed light on this issue. He revealed a crucial fact about freezing food that might “surprise” many.
In a recent video, Dr Raj stated: “Frozen food technically never expires. When it comes to frozen food, these best before dates and expiry dates are more about food quality – not food safety.
“So, as long as the food stays frozen, it’s safe. But that doesn’t mean frozen food stays tasty forever. The longer something stays frozen, it can be affected by something known as freezer burn.”
He added: “It gets covered by ice crystals, and it gets the moisture sucked out and oxidation occurs, so food that’s frozen for a long time can lack flavour.”
The expert also mentioned that the texture of the food can “degrade”, resulting in tough meat and limp vegetables over time. Additionally, Dr Raj noted that the nutritional value can decrease.
Dr Raj said, when freezing, it’s best to use a vacuum-sealed container or squeezing air out of bags before popping items into the freezer. This ensures minimal freezer burn, making bags a better choice over sealed containers.
Moreover, he stresses the importance of properly labelling your food with freeze dates for optimal handling. Since his advice hit the internet, it’s racked up more than 54,000 views, sparking a flurry of comments from viewers divided on the matter.
One person joked: “My seasoning will save the day, don’t worry.” Another added: “That would mean that meat won’t go bad either, but it tastes and looks not good after a while.”
Meanwhile, a third didn’t agree, writing: “That’s not true, lol. Everything, even frozen, has a due date. You can’t refrigerate meat for longer than three months.”
But what does official guidance say?
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirms that for safety, fridges should operate between 0 and 5°C, while freezers should stay around -18°C, acting like a “pause button” where food doesn’t spoil and most bacteria can’t develop.
You can freeze most food items, but always make sure to glance over the packet instructions to confirm they’re freezer-friendly. The FSA also emphasizes that any specific freezing or defrosting guidelines should be strictly adhered to, and also asserts that food must not be kept past midnight on its “use by” date.
