Frozen Shredded Smoked Chuck Roast, Pass or Trash?

[ssandy_561]

Just discovered a vacuum sealed bag of shredded smoked chuck roast in my freezer from when I smoked it November 2023. I’m thinking it will be ok to serve but not quite sure. It’s 2 lbs and I was going to defrost it and heat it up with some beef broth for sandwiches for some friends that are coming over tomorrow. Thought on if it will be fine or should it just go in the trash.

[DavidNorcross]

I would eat that no problem.

[Donw]

Eat and enjoy. You have no worries.

[58limited]

Vacuum sealed? It will keep for years in the freezer!

[Bob K]

Funny. Went through this same dilemma last week. Smoked, pulled chuckie I froze 6 months ago. Thawed it, put in a pan with some stock, just a tiny bit of bbq sauce to darken/gloss and it was the star of Father's Day. Was 5 seconds from throwing it out, go figure.

[Finster]

Cook it up and enjoy…

[Mosca]

November 2023? Vacuum sealed? That should taste like it did the day you sealed it.

[hoovarmin]

You have it on good authority already, but I'll add my hearty approval to dig in.

[fzxdoc]

Absolutely warm it up and serve. It will taste delicious.

FWIW, I keep many freezer staples/leftovers up to 2 years, everything vacuum sealed. No problem even after 2 years, from what I read, but for me that's the cutoff to serve the stuff lingering there.

Kathryn

[Mosca]

I just used some Wagyu burgers from 2020, they smelled fresh and were nicely pink when thawed. I’ve cooked rib roasts that were 3 years old.

For food that’s already cooked, sometimes that loses texture and flavor. It’s still safe, but maybe not worth it. I try to not let it get pushed too far back and forgotten. And home-frozen salsas and vegetables are “eh”. The salsas are watery, as are the vegetables. I’m better off making smaller quantities and committing to eating all of it within a week.

[58limited]

fzxdoc Mosca I once "lost" half of a vacuum sealed cooked brisket for 8 years. I thawed and heated it, it smelled and tasted fine. It became the best batch of boudin that I've ever made, people still beg me to make more brisket boudin.

[fzxdoc]

8 YEARS!!!!! Wowza!

I love hearing stories like this, 58limited .

I just smoked a batch of 3 year old sausages last week, don't know how I had missed them in my annual freezer inventory, and they all tasted great. That's what started me to thinking that maybe my "2 year rule" is too strict. As Mosca says, it's the cooked food that suffers more in long term storage.

K.

[Michael_in_TX]

I literally just ate this (like less than ten minutes ago), although mine was slightly more recent. And by more recent I mean December 3, 2023.

Eat and enjoy!

[SheilaAnn]

DaveD would know what to do! Pinkies and all.

+everything being said above. Do it up! Don’t waste food that you spent hard earned time and money on!

[FireMan]

Yup, cook it and eat it! NO problemo.

[HawkerXP]

Eat!

[DaveD]

I'm on the same bandwagon: No problemo at all. All ahead full!