Last year I bought a frozen turkey about one or two weeks before Thanksgiving with the intention of cooking it for the holiday. Well I didn't cook it, it's still in the freezer. I'm wondering if it would still be any good if I cooked it now? I can't find an expiration date on it and really hate the thought of defrosting, stuffing and cooking it for several hours only to find out it wasn't any good.

Any thoughts on whether this turkey is likely to still be edible after almost a year in the freezer? Or should I say a prayer, apologize for its unnecessary death and bury it in the back yard?

Clough

Hi, abbytoo!

It might still be good, but I wouldn't recommend fixing it. There may be a number of factors involved with dates and times. Please see the chart that's available on the United States Department of Agriculture website. Link is below:

Food Safety of Turkey...from Farm to Table

Thanks!

abbytoo

Thanks for your input Clough, my sister told me the same thing. But she would have told me that if it was in the freezer for two weeks so I thought I'd get some more opinions. I not only hate the waste but the loss of a life for no reason. Maybe I will say that prayer ......

Clough

Hi again, abbytoo!

I would think, that the United States Department of Agriculture would be one of the most reliable and accurate websites to use concerning information about this sort of thing.

Some people like to throw food away after very short periods of time, whether frozen or not. I tend to keep things somewhat longer... if it smells okay, then to me, it's probably okay. But, that's just me...

Things stored in a freezer are a different story, though. Certain things happen to them there that might not make them as palatible as we would like. Even after short periods of time.

For me, if it's something of fish, bird or animal origin, then I would follow the advice of the experts on those things concerning storage.

Sometimes, we just have to "bite the bullet" and accept what must be done if it means throwing something away.

I had the same question that you had here, about a frozen turkey, about four years ago.

I think that one of the sites that found even said that six months in the freezer was too long,

Thanks!

Just Dahlia

I would have defrosted it, smelled (and if good) cooked it and then re-froze it for turkey sandwichs and various foods for myself and family through out the year.

The newer stuffed Turkey would be for the big dinner.

I usually buy 2 evry year since they are so inexpensive around Thanksgiving. The second one sits in the freezer for along time and I have never had a problem with it.

artlady

I don't trust poultry that is not very fresh.
I would say the prayer.I always do the same on the rare occasions I have to waste food.

Just Dahlia

Now I feel icky

I've never had a problem, but I understand the concerns.

When in doubt, throw it out!

XOXOlove

it may also taste like frezzer burn since it has been in the frezzer for so long. if it were me i would toss it and buy a new one. it's not worth cooking it for such a long time and having it taste weird.

abbytoo

morgaine300

I once had a turkey in the freezer for a year and ate it. It was fine and it tasted fine. And someone else who ate some even said it was the best turkey he'd ever had.

But it was also very deeply frozen and had no freezer burn or anything. And it smelled fine when it was thawed. I was also careful to thaw it properly.

I'm of a mind that if it smells OK, I don't worry about it. Poultry definitely smells yucky when it's no good, more so than beef ever would.

Of course, I don't want to be responsible for anyone else, but that link Clough gave even says a fresh whole turkey can be frozen for 12 months.

(It also says open lunchmeat should only be refrigerated 3-5 days??? Sheesh, I keep stuff like bologna for weeks. On the other hand, I think my body is good and used to bacteria cause I break all the rules. You do realize we've actually gotten too clean? So now we have to eat special yogurt to make up for it. )