How Long Will Beef Stay Frozen

Are you using your freezer efficiently and effectively?

Buying meat in bulk and stocking up the freezer is a great way to save money, reduce trips to the grocery store, and make sure you always accept something to eat! Think of your freezer as your savings account, where you can set up "funds" (aka food) bated for a rainy day. The refrigerator is your checking account, where you continue the assets you plan to use soon.

To get the best bang for your frozen cadet, it's important to know some of import safety tips for freezing and thawing your meat. Learn all the details here for smarter shopping and saving!

Does Frozen Meat "Become Bad?"

According to the USDA, frozen meat kept at 0°F or lower will e'er technically be safe to eat. This low temperature prevents the growth of microorganisms and microbes like leaner and mold.

But that doesn't hateful it will taste good forever. While freezer burn doesn't brand frozen meat unsafe, information technology will make the texture dry out and leathery. To identify freezer burn, look for ice crystals on the surface of the meat, or for a shriveled or discolored advent.

You can cut off freezer-burned spots before or after cooking. Or if the meat is heavily freezer-burned, you lot may want to throw information technology away.

How Long Does Frozen Meat Last?

In full general, the less a piece of meat has been processed, the longer it will concluding. So a whole, raw craven can final in the freezer for up to a year, while cured and cooked beef hot dogs are all-time frozen for one to two months.

Here's a quick list of common uncooked meats and how long they'll stay tasty in the freezer.

• Salary – 1 month
• Sausage (pork, beef, craven, turkey) – 1-2 months
• Steaks – 6-12 months
• Pork chops – 4-6 months
• Pork butt or roast – four-12 months
• Whole chicken or turkey – 1 year
• Cut chicken or turkey – 9 months
• Ground beefiness, turkey, or pork – 3-4 months

You lot're non limited to only freezing raw meat! Cooked meat can as well be frozen to prolong its life.

For example, you lot could cook a large roast and freeze half of information technology to use in a future dish. Just be aware that raw frozen meat keeps a pleasing texture for longer than cooked frozen meat, since it hasn't yet lost its wet through the cooking procedure.

Here are some recommended freezing times for cooked meat:

• Pork or beef hot dogs – 1-2 months
• Whole ham – 1-two months
• Half ham – 1-ii months
• Poultry – approx. iv months
• Pork and beef – ii-three months

As yous encounter, there are no hard and fast rules, just rather a range which tin be impacted by how fresh the meat was at the time of freezing, and the way your meat is packaged. To make sure you're not leaving product in the freezer for too long, always label and date your frozen foods!

What Is the Best Manner to Package Meat For Freezing?

The most of import thing to keep in mind when packaging meat for the freezer is that air is the enemy. Yous desire equally footling air in your packaging as possible, because that'due south what causes freezer fire!

If your meat comes in a vacuum sealed package, you can successfully freeze information technology as-is. Styrofoam trays aren't as airtight, so yous tin either over-wrap them in tight plastic wrap, or repackage their contents by wrapping them in plastic and placing them inside a freezer handbag.

Previously cooked meat can also be frozen in a freezer handbag or a freezer-safe container. Make sure to clasp out as much air every bit possible before you zip it upward, and characterization what is cooked and what is fresh. Footing meat in item tin can be hard to place between raw and cooked after it's frozen.

When you put your packages in the freezer, you want them to freeze as speedily equally possible to preclude the growth of water ice crystals which will damage the texture. Lay the items flat and don't stack them until they're solid. Ideally, you would freeze your meat in a stand-alone freezer that isn't opened ofttimes. The more often you open your freezer, the more likely yous are to lose temperature.

If a Bundle Says "Continue Frozen," Can It Go In the Refrigerator Instead?

It's always best to stick to the package instructions on your food. This is partially for food safety reasons, and partially for reheating reasons. Foods that say "continue frozen" oft have cooking instructions that offset from a frozen land.

If a package says to thaw before cooking, then you tin can thaw information technology in the refrigerator. (Come across "What Is the Best Manner to Safely Thaw Frozen Meat" below.)

How Long Can I Keep Meat Refrigerated Before Freezing Information technology?

Meat that has been kept in the refrigerator is safety to freeze IF:

• Information technology has been kept below forty°F in the refrigerator, and
• It is before the "utilize by" or "freeze past" date on the packaging

If the product doesn't have a "utilize by" or "freeze by" date, make sure to freeze it within i to 2  days for basis meat or poultry, or 3 to 4 days for steaks, chops, or roasts. Check the FDA Food Storage Chart for a full list of refrigeration and freezer storage times.

What Is the Best Fashion to Safely Thaw Frozen Meat?

Thawing meat out on the kitchen counter is a big no-no. Meat that is left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour in the summer) can abound dangerous bacteria.

The iii safe ways to thaw meat are in the fridge, in common cold water, or in the microwave.

Thawing Frozen Meat in the Refrigerator

This is the slowest but safest mode to thaw frozen meat. For minor items, an overnight thaw will usually be sufficient. For a large piece of meat, plan for ane 24-hour interval of thaw time for every 5 pounds of meat.

Thawing Frozen Meat in Cold H2o

Thawing meat in cold water is faster than the fridge, and the absurd temperature prevents rapid bacteria growth. Brand sure your food is in a leak-proof package and submerge it completely in cold h2o. Change the water every 30 minutes to make sure information technology stays common cold during the thawing procedure.

Thawing Frozen Meat in the Microwave

Using the microwave is the fastest way to thaw frozen meat, but this method is best reserved for mid-sized cuts, similar thick steaks and chicken pieces. The microwave's defrost setting tin can start to cook small items similar thin pork chops. And since the microwave doesn't e'er thaw evenly, large pieces of meat can actually get-go to cook in some areas while still frozen in others.

To use this method, accept the meat out of the bundle and place it on a plate or other microwave-prophylactic surface. Follow the instructions on your microwave to defrost based on weight and be sure to check the progress oft, turning the meat to ensure fifty-fifty thaw.

Later thawing, cook immediately.

Can Meat Be Refrozen After Beingness Thawed?

The USDA advises that it is safe to refreeze raw meat if information technology was thawed in the refrigerator. If you used the cold water or microwave methods, it'due south better to cook the entire portion and then freeze the cooked leftovers once they've cooled for about 30 minutes, or one time they've stopped steaming.

It's all-time to but thaw and refreeze your meat one time, rather than several times. Every time the meat is thawed, it will lose some moisture and repeated freeze/thaw cycles may lead to a chewy texture.

A Stocked Freezer Makes an Economical Kitchen!

Keeping a well-stocked freezer can aid families save money on groceries since you can purchase items when they are on sale or buy in bulk, which usually provides the all-time price per pound. To avoid waste, brand a habit of checking the freezer before making your grocery listing or menu, so you can use up what you have before you risk freezer burn.

Stock up on meat from a supplier that meets loftier brute intendance standards similar Coleman Natural Foods, so you'll have a steady supply of protein you lot can experience good about feeding your family, set up to thaw and add to any recipe!

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Source: https://www.colemannatural.com/blog/how-long-can-you-keep-meat-in-the-freezer/

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