5 replies to this topic

[nbaines]

I have a bag of veal/beef marow bones which I have in the freezer. They have been there for about 3.5-4 months.
Are they still safe to use for stock or should I dispose of them?

Many thanks

[scubadoo97]

Absolutely safe. Why would they not be safe? Just wondering.

[KarenDW]

I freeze bones all the time... 6 months (well wrapped) sounds good for a "fridge" freezer. up to 1 year, or more for a "deep freeze".
The only usability consideration [for me] would be if the fridge freezer does not have a separate door. Some older refrigerators have only one main door, and the freezer compartment is inside. In such a situation, the freezer temperature does not really stay low enough (due to opening & closing the fridge door) to maintain good product quality. Therefore, the food could develop and "off" flavor, even if technically it is still safe to eat.
If it smells weird, it will taste even weirder. Keep in mind, that pathogens which cause food-borne illness would not, in themselves, create an odor...

[Blether]

scubadoo97 is quite right - you're going to boil those bones for two hours or more, so they'll be very hygienic. As for safe in terms of making a good-flavoured stock, you're here anyway, why not defrost them, boil them up and see how they smell ?

[nbaines]

Thanks guys,
I thought they should be ok but thought i'd check, I had defrosted them and the marrow from some of the bones had sort of slid out a little and I thought I'd just check to be sure as i've never had that happen with fresh bones and it was the first time i'd frozen them. I'll roast and boil them and see how good they are against fresh bones in a stock.
thanks again

[Peter the eater]

I'd freeze more bones if I had more freezer space. I've thrown year-old frozen beef bones into boiling water for stock and got fine results -- and you can gear them crack. In fact, there's a great French expression that means a cook is very skilled and thorough if they crack the marrow out of the bones -- I'll see if I can find it, sounds much better in French.