Aussie mum scores a 'freezer full' of fish and seafood for $26

"I wouldn't eat that," one commenter wrote before the mum was forced to defend her epic haul. 

A thrifty shopper who scored a 'freezer full' worth of seafood, chicken and baked goods for just $26 at Coles got more than she bargained for after the photos were criticised online.

The Aussie mum recently shared the bargain shop, which covered her entire kitchen bench, on the Markdown Addicts Facebook group.

But while lots of people were impressed, others had much to say about a particular part of her haul. 

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Image: Facebook

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The mum's epic freezer stash

The mum posted in the group, "$26 for a freezer full of fish/prawns, chicken, and cheesecake."

Then, she shared four accompanying photos showcasing exactly what she bought, with items marked down to as little as 58 cents. 

In terms of seafood, she managed to score garlic prawn skewers for $1.40, garlic prawns for $1.25, jumbo prawns for $1.20, Basa portions for 58 cents and Whiting fillets for 80 cents.

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Five marinated chicken kebab packs were just 80 cents, and a packet of Jarsleberg cheese was the same price. The mum also scored three blueberry cheesecakes for $1 each, dips for 40 cents, bliss balls for 90 cents and hot cross buns for 30 cents.

The markdowns were snagged on May 13th at 5 pm, the same day the food was marked as 'best before'.

The mum said that when she saw them, she "swooped in like a seagull on a chip."

Image: Facebook

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"I wouldn't eat that"

"Well done! That's the best markdown haul I've ever seen!" one person said.

Another shared, "Nice work! I'm clearly shopping at the wrong Coles."

However, in the comments, many users expressed their distrust and past negative experiences with marked-down food.

"I’ll never buy these cheap meat bargains again; mine were all off," one person lamented.

"I wouldn't eat marked-down seafood. I had food poisoning from that before; it's not a nice feeling. Great find, though," another commented.

"I don’t trust those markdowns, but well done. I have the biggest phobia about food being off," shared one user.

"This is why I don't eat at other people's houses lol," another joked.

"That’s a good score, but I’m too fussy and wouldn’t eat any of that, unfortunately," admitted another commenter.

The mum clapped back: 'I trust my nose'

Despite the mixed reactions, the mum remained unphased, enjoying her savings and fully stocked freezer.

She replied to one critic, saying: "Most of the products say they aren’t suitable for refreezing, but I’ve never had a problem doing so.

"I distribute through the freezer so everything freezes quickly, and I use the microwave on the defrost setting when I’m ready to thaw. I trust my nose and rarely need to throw anything out."

Kidspot's Food Editor weighs in 

Kidspot's Food Editor, Liz Macri, weighed in with her thoughts on the matter.

"If the seafood is still within its 'best before' date and smells and feels fresh and clean, it can definitely be frozen and will be safe to eat," she advised.

"The best time period to eat frozen fish is within six months, as fish and shellfish will lose taste and texture the longer they are frozen."

Liz also emphasised the importance of proper handling and storage.

"Once thawed, if anything smells spoiled or sour, discard it immediately. Make sure you label and date everything going into the freezer and use a first-in, first-out approach. Once defrosted, you should use it straight away. Don't keep it thawed in the fridge for several days."

She also addressed the handling of leftovers. "Leftovers are fine to keep and should be consumed within about three days. Store them correctly at the right temperature and in an airtight container or covered dish."

So, if you want to make like this thrifty mum and enjoy your discounted finds, make sure to follow Liz's advice so you can do so safely.

Originally published as Aussie mum scores a 'freezer full' of fish and seafood for $26