Topics:
Animal Refresher, Meat Science
Shelf Life of Cured and Salted Meat at −18°C
View Complete Answer & Explanation
Question (English)
The shelf life of cured & salted meat at freezing temperature of (−)18°C is:
- 2 months ✓ Correct
- 6 months
- 4 months
- 8 months
Explanation:
Correct Answer: 2 months
The shelf life of Cured and Salted meat at −18°C is only 2 months — the shortest among all frozen meats.
Why Cured Meat Has the Shortest Frozen Shelf Life?
- Salt (NaCl) in cured meat lowers the freezing point, allowing some enzymatic and chemical reactions to continue even at −18°C.
- Nitrite acts as a pro-oxidant for fat at freezer temperatures — accelerating rancidity.
- These combined effects reduce the frozen shelf life significantly.
Shelf Life Ranking at −18°C (Longest to Shortest)
- Beef/Mutton/Chevon/Carabeef: 6 months
- Pork/Poultry: 4 months
- Cured/Salted meat: 2 months
📚 About this Topic — Animal Refresher
This multiple choice question is from Animal Refresher, Meat Science. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Refresher to strengthen your preparation.