Freezing Frenzy – Rules When It Comes To Freezing And Thawing Meat
What are the rules when it comes to freezing food, in particular, meat? Meat is sold at stores both fresh and frozen, both raw and cooked. How safe is it to eat? How long will it last? Here is what you need to know when it comes to freezing, thawing, cooking, and refreezing meat.
What happens when meat is frozen?
By freezing meat, you are slowing down the yeast and bacteria, but they’re still present. Nutritional content doesn’t really change when you freeze meat, however freezing forms sharp crystals of ice within the meat and cause fibers to break down and some of the meat’s natural flavors to escape once thawed.
Freezer Burn And Storage
Never waste a single steak. To prevent damage to your meats, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or bags to keep air out. This will prevent freezer burn, which discolors the meat and can make it dry. However, the meat is still safe to eat and you can cut away the discolored pieces when it is thawed and ready to cook. Premier Meat steaks and fillets come cryo-sealed and ready to safely freeze for later!
Proper Thawing Techniques
The best way to thaw frozen meat is to place it in the fridge for 1-2 days before you’re cooking it. You can also place it in a bath of cold water, or use the thawing feature of your microwave (be careful to not let it start cooking in the mircrowave). Never thaw meat at room temperature. Larger meats will take longer to thaw than smaller pieces and the meat will thaw at different rates, allowing bacteria to multiply to its heart’s desire.
Refreezing Meat
While many people prefer not to refreeze raw or cooked meat, the USDA has acknowledged that it is safe to do so, but within conditions. If the meat is safely thawed in the fridge, it is safe to refreeze it raw if you decided to not cook it anymore. It is also safe to freeze cooked meats that were previously frozen when raw. Any meats that were left outside the fridge for over two hours (or 1 hour if the temperature of the room is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit), should not be refrozen.
It order to still enjoy the best quality of the meat, it is best to freeze it for no more than 4-5 months. Nonetheless, frozen meats can still be kept longer than that.
Buy Fresh, Freeze Later
Premier Meat Company sources the best protein meats and seafood from local California farms that practice sustainable farming methods. Our company provides some of the best-rated Southern California restaurants with their meats, and now the company can deliver to you too, right at home. Go to PremierMeatCompany.com to check out what they have to offer. You can fill up your cart with bits and pieces, you can order a package set of meats, or even sign up for their monthly subscription. And, if you happen to order more meat than you’re ready to feed yourself that week, you now know how to properly and safely freeze the meats to ensure longevity!