How to Take Freezer Burn Out of Meat

Freeze meat properly to prevent freezer burn.

The easiest way to prevent freezer burn is to package foods tightly in airtight freezer bags or freezer containers. For meat still in its packaging, you can also wrap over it with additional plastic wrap. Though uncooked meat can be kept frozen indefinitely at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, to maintain its quality, about four to 12 months is recommended. And, if your meat does have freezer burn, note that while it's safe to consume, it will not taste as good. Therefore, if you decide to take the freezer burn out of the meat, it must be manually removed.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife

Instructions

1. Take your meat out of the freezer and examine it. You may see frost on top of the meat, but it is the grayish-brown, leathery-like spots on the meat that are the freezer burn, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.

2. Thaw your meat in the refrigerator, in the microwave or in cold water. Do not thaw it on the counter at room temperature, according to University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension.

3. Cut the freezer burn right off of the meat with a sharp knife. Alternatively, you can cut it off after cooking.

References

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Safe Food Handling
• University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension; Food Safety Q & A: Is This Food Still Safe to Eat?; Alice Henneman, et al.; September 2003