# Should I cook frozen ground beef that's been in the freezer for 5 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513 "2016-07-09T22:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/21 "2016-07-10T01:36:10Z")
Eat it! You know… for science. ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/22 "2016-07-10T01:42:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > it’s on one of those Styrofoam trays with plastic wrap around it. The wrap probably contains PVC, a carcinogen which is generally considered safe due to the relatively short time meat is normally in contact with it (and the tray), but five years of contact might be a problem with chemicals leaching into the meat. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/23 "2016-07-10T02:18:55Z")
> [@Obeseus](#): > > The wrap probably contains PVC, a carcinogen which is generally considered safe due to the relatively short time meat is normally in contact with it (and the tray), but five years of contact might be a problem with chemicals leaching into the meat. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/24 "2016-07-10T02:19:45Z")
Hmm, i hasn’t considered the danger of the plastic wrap. As far as pathogens go, if you cook it thoroughly, I’m sure it will be fine. As far as taste and quality…yetchhh. there’s no way I would choose to eat that short of starvation. It will be freezer burned, it might be slightly rancid, and it may taste like plastic. I’d toss it and make room in the freezer. A solid chunk of well wrapped beef that’s been in a quality freezer is a different matter, and would probably still be edible. But ground beef in a supermarket display container? Heck no. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/25 "2016-07-10T02:42:57Z")
Will deer eat ground beef? If so, send some my way. I can use it to get rid of those bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/26 "2016-07-10T02:59:53Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > ETA: It’s about a pound, and it’s on one of those Styrofoam trays with plastic wrap around it. > [@Leaffan](#): > > On sale it’s $4 a pound here in Ontario. Not that that’s my prime directive. I’m just curious what it will be like after 5 years. > > ETA: Usual price is $6 a pound. Curiosity aside, I think I’d avoid it. Especially if it was only $4 to $6 to get fresher stuff. It’s not worth taking a chance to save up to $6, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513/27 "2016-07-10T03:33:11Z")
Dude, that cow walked the earth during Obama’s first term. Mind: blown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cook-frozen-ground-beef-thats-been-in-the-freezer-for-5-years/759513.md?page=1)