Is that safe to eat? A guide to the funky foods in your kitchen.(food preservation)

I went spelunking in my freezer and unearthed a burger patty from 2004. Should I toss it?

In a freezer set at 0[degrees] F (check using a refrigerator thermometer), frozen foods remain safe indefinitely. How long taste and texture stay OK depends on the meat. Frozen bacon and sausage retain their quality for a month or two; uncooked burgers, three to four months; uncooked steaks and roasts, four months to a year. Date food labels with an indelible marker as they go into the freezer.

How long do refrigerated eggs last?

Federally graded fresh eggs in their shells are safe for three to five weeks after the expiration date on the carton; raw yolks and whites, for two to four days; hard-cooked eggs, for one week. Try to keep the refrigerator temperature lower than 38[degrees] F.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Can I refreeze chili that was destined to be dinner at a canceled football party?

Yes, it's safe to freeze previously cooked or uncooked foods that have thawed properly (in a refrigerator or microwave oven), although there may be a loss of quality because of moisture lost through defrosting.