[Mel]

Hello,
This seems a really silly question about freezing your own produce.Now,when you may have purchased something processed and it has a use by date,well how does this really apply to home things.

I have been tidying a chest freezer and found some Courgette and dill soup-dated 2009!(ok,it was at the very very bottom ) I thought I should really throw it out,however,upon opening it and taking it from the container,it smells like the day I made it! no,I have not yet but it was really very  beforehand. Today I have also found some of last years runners and,I really must get on and use those trotters up  :yum:lol!

I just sometimes wonder how long things really last, if not provoked by packaging details or the throw away society that we live in?!

[FiB]

Be interested in official answer - but I'd eat it if it smelt fine.  (Mind you my son did say I was like  a goat yesterday!!!).  I trust most of these kind of decisions to my eyes and nose.

[HappyHippy]

I trust most of these kind of decisions to my eyes and nose.

Me too  but I am always just a teensy bit more wary when it comes to meat products 
But veggie stuff should be fine.

[Fleecewife]

I keep using my veg til it tastes horrible     Runner beans tend to last only a couple of years before they are less tasty.  For the soup, as above - if it tastes fine then give it a go.  Make sure you boil it through for 10 mins.
For meat I have frozen straight from the carcase, then I would eat it from the bottom of the freezer.  Last year I found some venison like that, with a thin layer of freezer burn over the surface, but underneath it was lovely.  I made it into a stew, having cut off the freezer burnt bit - it was tasty and we survived 
 
Our own sheep would never be wasted and are often a couple of years old or so before I find them.  As long as they have been well packaged and the packaging hasn't been damaged I don't see why they can't be eaten.  Mammoth has lasted a whole lot longer than a couple of years and is still edible, if somewhat tough 
 
I expect I will now be arrested by the food police 

[Mel]

Great answers,Thank you! I did end up trying the courgette and dill soup last night and it was still really nice,and i'm ok today with no funny tummy
I would use the meat if there was any left  ,but I am funny with fish,which I love,I know you should be careful with it.I do have lots of veg in there though.

"I expect I will now be arrested by the food police  "