Is a 6-month-old frozen chicken too old?

[HRJ]

Finally got around the cleaning out my basement freezer yesterday, and found a whole chicken that I bought back in early April.

Is it too old to be any good? I don't think I'd use it for a Psycho Chicken or anything roasted, but I thought maybe for soup or stock? What do you all think?

Helene

[tbb113]

I would use it without hesitation. Especially for a soup.

[MrsReber]

I hate to admit this, but we deep freeze meat all the time for up to a year. I believe it's okay. I'll readily roast a chicken that's been in our downstairs freezer for months. I hope that's not a bad thing! I can attest to the fact that we've never gotten sick from it. It's roasted at a pretty high temp so I would think that would kill any bacteria.

We have some venison chopmeat that's about a year old and we continue to use it as long as it's been wrapped correctly and frozen the whole time.

[swquilts]

Shoot, I use meat/sausage that's been in our freezer for 2 years! :eek: :o

[lorilei]

I wouldn't hesitate using it based on age alone (I have used chickens that have been around for 6-8 months with no trouble). I don't believe there's a danger in getting sick; there's more the issue of compromised flavor. You'll know if it's worth eating, however, by its taste/smell.

I'd recommend roasting it over using it for stock, however, if you think there's any chance the flavor might be off ... my reason being that a freezer-burnt taste in chicken stock is pretty unforgiveable.

[donleyk]

Yep, me too. Especially venison. I know I used a package dated with the year 2002 recently. It's wrapped so well from the butcher I don't hesitate.

[MrsReber]

Well, I'm glad I'm not in the minority here! Also glad that others safely use meat that's a year or so old.

[schuh]

Ditto. I'd totally use it.

[Wendy w]

Originally posted by swquilts
Shoot, I use meat/sausage that's been in our freezer for 2 years! :eek: :o

Nice to know. I have chorizo that I made 2 years ago. :o

[southjerseymom]

You're fine. While we're on the subject, I once had a turkey in my deep freezer for a year. I called the Butterball Turkey hotline to ask whether it would be safe to eat and they said it would be fine. The only difference was that it might not be as juicy and moist. That held true but with alittle gravy it was good. My company couldn't even tell!

[wallycat]

I should be so lucky! :o

[JanetJ]

I'd use it in a heartbeat. We have stuff that's been frozen for a looong time that we eat without any problems.

[sharhamm]

What have you got to lose by cooking it?

[laurelhiker]

I just (last Sunday) roasted a chicken from the freezer whose packaging read "Sell by March 23, 2003". Absolutely couldn't tell; chicken was just fine :)

-- GG

[HRJ]

Wow -- thanks everyone. I wasn't as worried about the food-safety angle as I was about the taste -- glad I asked.

And now I'm feeling really regretful, because I also found a brisket from January, and tossed it, because I was sure it wouldn't be any good anymore. :o :( Seems I could have cooked it after all.

Helene