To ensure your meat is of a satisfactory quality and safe to eat, being mindful of its best-before date is vital. Not doing so can mean not only a tough, less flavourful experience, but it can also put you at risk of food poisoning.
One thing many people don't realise is that there is a big difference between the Use-By date and the Best Before date. In this blog, we'll share why this matters. We will also show how freezing can safely extend your meat's shelf life.
Use-By vs. Best Before: Which Label Are You Actually Reading?
While some believe the Use-By and Best Before labels are the same, this is simply not true. Knowing the difference can help you avoid food-related illness and reduce food wastage.
Use-By Date
The most important thing you should know about the Use-by label is that it tells you when food can be safely eaten. This label is often applied to highly perishable food like dairy and meat. Consuming food after its sell-by date increases the risk of food poisoning. With this in mind, you should never cook, eat or freeze meat past its Use-By date.
However, meat that is before its Use-by date can be safely frozen. The earlier you do so, the better the quality of meat you'll find during defrosting and cooking.
Best Before Date
This label is concerned about the quality of the product. It indicates when the product is at its best in terms of flavour and texture. It is still safe to use a product after the Best Before date, but you may find a reduction in quality, flavour and taste. This label is typically used for shelf-stable and long-lasting foods, including items like dry pasta, tinned food and frozen food.
The best way to tell if a Best Before product is safe or of a high enough quality to eat is to perform a sniff test and/or a flavour check. As long as your food passes these checks, it will still be good to use.
Whether your food item has a Use-By or Best Before date, it must be stored correctly. Check the product label to ensure you store each food properly. For example, chilled food requires a fridge, and it must not be left at ambient temperatures for an extended period of time. It is also vital to ensure that all food items are properly sealed to prevent them from going stale and losing freshness.
The Golden Rule: Freeze Before the Use-By Date, not After
When it comes to freezing food, the rule of thumb is that you only freeze food before the Use-By date. Freezing after this point can be dangerous. This is because the meat may already contain high levels of harmful bacteria, even if it looks and smells ok. Freezing stops bacterial growth, but it does not kill existing pathogens. Consequently, these bacteria will be present when the meat is defrosted and cooked. Ultimately, this can cause food poisoning.
Does Freezing Affect the Nutritional Value of Organic Meat?
Some people are cautious about freezing their meat, fearing that it might lower its nutritional value. However, this is not true! Freezing meat maintains its nutritional value, flavour and texture.
However, storing it in the freezer for long periods of time can cause 'freezer burn', which harmlessly lowers the quality, flavour and texture of meat. With this in mind, it is important to cook your frozen meat in a timely manner.
How to Bulk Order, Freeze Smarter, and Reduce Your Weekly Food Bill
Avoid fear of meat going off by putting it straight in the freezer after it is delivered. You could even do this in bulk with organic meat boxes, allowing you to save money in the process. This will ensure you always have high-quality meat available, even if you can't get to a butcher or supermarket.
Eversfield Organic is Here for all of Your Premium High-Quality Meat Needs
Eversfield Organic is an independent British butcher, based in the fields of Devon. If you are looking for free-range, organic meats, take a look at our website. We deliver freshly butchered meat right to your door.
