Freezer Meat Tips

There's nothing better than buying bulk meats that you can freeze and store away and have it your disposal any time you need them. However, freezing and preserving meat takes a little bit of knowledge and experience to ensure food safety over extended periods of time. In general, food that is stored at a constant 0 degrees Fahrenheit can be preserved for a long period of time. Freezing ultimately stops the growth of harmful bacteria and microorganisms that cause spoilage and illness. In addition, remember that thorough cooking is an extra measure that should be taken when dealing with frozen foods. Here are some great freezer meat tips.

Packaging your meats

The much dreaded freezer burn can be avoided with the proper packaging of freezer meats. Although meat can certainly be frozen in its original packaging, if you are going to freeze it for an extended period of time you should consider storing it in airtight foil, plastic wrap, freezer wrap, or re-sealable freezer bags. Meats that are in vacuum packages can be frozen as is.

The color of your meat

Just because your meat changes color doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bad thing. By now you probably know that your red meat doesn't stay red for very long once it has been in the freezer for a while. It usually turns dark or pale brown. This can be caused by freezer burn or lack of oxygen in the meat. Poultry, on the other hand, does not typically change color, aside from their bones, which sometimes turn darker when pigment from the surrounding tissue seeps into the bones.
 

Freeze immediately

Freeze your food immediately for the best possible quality control. Slow freezing can lead to freezer burn and loss of juices in the meat. Try not to stack meat packages on top of one another as this slows the freezing process. You make stack them once they are frozen solid.

Freezing durations

As stated before, meats frozen and maintained at temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit can virtually last forever. However, the quality of the meat will be affected over time. A good, simple test: if it gives off any odd odor whatsoever, you probably need to discard it.

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