How long can pork be refrigerated?

With the development of the economy, large appliances such as refrigerators have also entered the homes of ordinary people. In the past in rural areas, food had to be cooked in various ways in order to be preserved for a long time, but now it can be kept fresh for a long time just by putting it in the refrigerator. For example, pork used to be smoked into bacon for preservation, but now it can be put directly in the refrigerator. However, how long can the refrigerator keep these foods without spoiling? Or to be more specific, how much does the quality of pork change after being frozen for a long time? Is eating this kind of meat harmful to human health?

Save time

Farming experts said that since pork needs 24 hours to deacidify before it can be put on the market, if it is not eaten within one or two days, it can be placed in a refrigerator. Otherwise, it must be placed in a freezer to ensure that the pork does not deteriorate. As for the shelf life, if it is vacuum-packed and aseptically processed, a shelf life of 1 year to 18 months can be achieved, but once the package is opened, the shelf life will be rapidly shortened.

Generally, the shelf life of pork in the freezer is 4-5 months, and no more than half a year at most. The best freezing temperature is minus 15-16 degrees Celsius.

The dangers of storing for too long

As the storage time increases, the nutrients in the pork will be lost and the taste will deteriorate. In addition, a "psychrophilic bacteria" called Listeria will be produced, making it unsuitable for consumption.

Listeria is common in most foods and can grow and multiply slowly in low temperatures of 0-10°C. Severe Listeria poisoning can cause blood and brain tissue infections. People with poor immunity, such as the elderly, pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases, are most susceptible to Listeria infection. People with Listeria food poisoning typically experience diarrhea, fever, and after a few days or weeks, severe high fever, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness, and/or vomiting.