Store Bought Meat Lives Beyond Its Expiration Date

Can meat bought in a store last longer than the expiration date on the package? Hunters that have game meat processed often freeze some of it and are still able to eat it months later without doing anything but placing the meat concealed in the white paper wrap from the processing place in the freezer. The game meat might be in the freezer several years before getting cooked and still be good.

Of course it's a different story if the meat was removed from the freezer thawed out and then refrozen. When the meat is thawed out it will sweat and water from melted ice will form on the meat. Air pockets will occur. If it is placed back in the freezer air in the water and sweat will start to burn the meat and cause freezer burn.

Game meat usually has no expiration date because it's up to the individual to decide if it's gone bad or is about to. Store bought meat sometimes finds itself in the midst of deceptive practices where expired dates are changed to prolong its life. Old store bought meat might be mixed with new to fool the eyes. So store bought meat can last much longer than indicated by its expiration date. It might not be as tasty on the palate but then again some people can't tell any difference in the taste and might never know the meat had already expired.

Store bought meat can be preserved in the freezer and eaten months perhaps a year or two later. Try doing some of these tricks to make it last. Before putting the meat in the freezer punch a hole in the plastic wrap or meat container at one end of the package. Drain all the blood and fluid from the package by tilting it sideways. Mash out the air and place plastic wrap over the hole then place the meat in a freezer bag. Begin closing the freezer bag but leave one end about a fingernail length open. Take a portable hand-held vacuum cleaner and suck out the air from the open end. When done put the meat in the freezer not the refrigerator unless it's going to be eaten soon.