A recent survey has revealed that a more than 1 million Brits have food items in their freezers that have been in there since 2015 or longer! Now that’s what we call stockpiling!

A poll of more than 1,000 UK adults revealed that even before COVID saw us ransacking pasta isles and loo rolls, we were already a nation of secret stockpilers and many of us find it difficult to empty our freezers.

15% of respondants said they have freezer food that they stored more than two years old and have never got round to using it, with 5% admitting that some items in their freezers were frozen for at least five years – well past the date when they should have been eaten or binned!

Respondents were asked what food items have been sitting at the bottom of their freezers for years, with ready meals, meats and fruits the most popular choices.

Lorraine Taylor of Prominence Support said,

It seems as a nation we like to freeze and leave – for years! In fact, many of us probably have sealed plastic bags in the deepest darkest corners of our freezer that may never see the light of day again.

Lorraine offered some words of advice for avid freezer fans:

• If you want to freeze vegetables then blanching (boil or steam until they are partially cooked) is a must, to slow or stop the enzymatic activity that decays vegetables
• Meat should be used within three months of freezing, while bread only lasts 3-6 months, white fish and fruit six months
• Freeze these items any longer and while they will still be safe to eat, the colour, flavour and texture will deteriorate
• Don’t pack freezers too full – air must be able to circulate easily to maintain the temperature
• Use the ‘fast freeze’ setting if you’re freezing large quantities
• Don’t store slightly warm foods in the freezer, as they will cause the interior temperature to rise
• Place food in airtight containers or freezer bags before placing in the freezer, otherwise, the cold air will dry it
• When freezing liquids, leave some space in the container to allow for expansion – don’t fill to the top
• It’s always worth labelling containers with details about contents, numbers of savings and importantly the date when you froze
• Never refreeze raw meat that has defrosted. You can cook frozen meat and fish once defrosted, and then refreeze

Take a look in your cupboards & freezer – what’s the oldest item of food? We’d love to know!

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