Freezing Foods

When you find a good deal on food, meat especially, lots of us stock up and throw the surplus in the freezer. I was asked a few questions about if this is safe, so I did a little research. The following information is directly from the USDA website.

Is this safe?
Food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. Freezing preserves food for extended periods because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness.

What can you freeze?
You can freeze almost any food. However, being able to freeze food and being pleased with the quality after defrosting are two different things. Some foods simply don't freeze well. Examples are mayonnaise, cream sauce and lettuce. Raw meat and poultry maintain their quality longer than their cooked counterparts because moisture is lost during cooking.

Can you refreeze? (This one's for you, Jill!)
Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through defrosting. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled properly.

What if my freezer loses power?
If food is partly frozen, still has ice crystals, or is as cold as if it were in a refrigerator (40 °F), it is safe to refreeze or use. It's not necessary to cook raw foods before refreezing. Discard foods that have been warmer than 40 °F for more than 2 hours. Discard any foods that have been contaminated by raw meat juices.

How long will it last?
Freezer storage is for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely.

Stand Alone Freezers are better for long term storage:
Use a free-standing freezer set at 0° F or below for long-term storage of frozen foods [a refrigerator freeze may not be able to maintain a constant temp if the door is opened frequently]. Keep a thermometer in your freezing compartment or freezer to check the temperature. This is important if you experience power-out or mechanical problems. [There are freezer alarms available that beep to let you know your freezer has dropped below a certain temperature, like if the door is accidentally left open.]

Source: USDA Freezing and Food Safety Fact Sheet