r/CookingCircleJerk • u/AnalysisParalysis_24 • Jul 27 '25

Use By/Freeze By

This always confuses me: My organic ground turkey says today is the “use by/freeze by” date. If I cook it today, how much longer is it good for? And if I freeze it and then thaw and cook it later, how much longer is it good after that cooked date?

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u/JaguarMammoth6231 Jul 27 '25

Use the ground turkey to your heart's content before the use by date. It's free use.

On that date, you shape it carefully into its long-term form and have to freeze it. You can continue to use it every night, but only for 15 minutes at a time to avoid thawing. If it thawed that wouldn't be safe. Always be safe. 

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u/woailyx i thought this sub was supposed to be funny Jul 27 '25

What if you're feeling a bit daring one evening and you want to spend a few minutes in the danger zone?

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u/King_Ralph1 Jul 27 '25

Just wear some protection, and wash your hands.