Open my freezer and you will see a stockpile of frozen fish fillets, chicken breasts, steaks, and sausage links. This is my saving grace during weeks when my meal plans go awry or I can't get to the store. Wrapped carefully against the cold, they are just as good after their time in the freezer as they were when purchased.
When packaging meats for the freezer, the most important thing is to protect them from exposure to air. Wrap meats very tightly in either plastic wrap or freezer paper, pressing the wrapping right up against the surface of the meat. Next, wrap another layer of aluminum foil around the meat or seal it inside a zip-top freezer bag.
Packaged like this, meat can be kept frozen for at least three months. After this time, even well-wrapped meats can start to develop freezer burn, though I've often cooked meat several months after freezing and found it to be perfectly fine.
The best and safest way to thaw meat is to place the frozen package in the refrigerator and let it thaw gradually. Small cuts will thaw this way in about 24-hours while larger cuts can take a few days. If you're rushed for time, small cuts can also be thawed in a bowl of lukewarm water under running water.
Two things not to do are thaw frozen meats on the counter or cook them straight from the freezer. Thawing on the counter is a safety risk since the outside of the meat will thaw and start harboring harmful bacterias long before the middle is usually thawed. Cooking frozen meat presents more of an aesthetic problem: the outer parts and the inner parts of the meat will cook at such different rates that the outside overcooks before the middle is done. (Though to the contrary, there is this method of cooking frozen steak!)
Any other tips for freezing and thawing meat to share?
Related: Fresh or Frozen Shrimp? Buy Frozen!
(Image: Emma Christensen)
National Center for Home Food Preservation Freezing FAQs Home Publications Search Seasonal Tips Info Request Multimedia FAQs Contact Links How do I? Can Freeze Dry Cure & Smoke Ferment Pickle Make Jam & Jelly Store For ... Food & Drink - How To Information eHow.com Food & Drink: Don't let that next party be a flop. Be the envy of your friends thanks to eHow's entertaining secrets sure to make that next affair a success. Food is ... The Test Kitchen of Melissa Fallis: Freezer Cooking- Slow Cooker ... Fall is SUPER BUSY for me at work... and I typically get home late and don't have time to cook (Okay I'll admit it.. I don't FEEL like cooking! Freezing and Food Safety What Can You Freeze? Is Frozen Food Safe? Does Freezing Destroy Bacteria & Parasites? Freshness & Quality; Nutrient Retention; Enzymes; Packaging; Freezer Burn Common Food Questions and Answers from Cook it Quick, UNL Extension Which foods freeze well? How do you peel and slice a mango or avocado? How to substitute whole wheat flour for white flour, and other substitutions offered as advice ... 35 Freezer Safe Recipes Hello there ladies and gentlemen. I have a couple of things to inform you about before we get to the very important and earth shattering content of this post. A Happy Freezer Full of Food Recipes, resources, tips, and tools for once a month, OAMC, freezer, big batch, and make ahead cooking. This blog chronicles the culinary adventures of a [former ... Freeze your hard drive to recover data: Myth or reality? - [Geeks ... Technology, science, news and social issues for geeks. Freezer Cooking Ring Around the Rosies First of all, I promise this isnt turning into a food blog But, I asked on facebook what you all would like me to post next, and sharing my first attempt at ... The Recipe Mission savvysuzie Momma bear to one husband and two little boys, all with voracious appetites...just trying to keep all the tummies happy without breaking the bank!
No comments:
Post a Comment