How to Protect Frozen Meat From Freezer Burn
No one wants to purchase groceries to only throw it away. Still, sometimes freezer burn causes meats to become inedible, as the part of the food that is "burned" is dry and tasteless. Freezer burned meats will not hurt you, but the nutritional quality of the meat is greatly diminished. Freezer burn occurs when foods that are not properly sealed are frozen for an extended amount of time. Freezer burn, however, can be eliminated, allowing your meats to last until you need to use them. Here are some tips for protecting frozen meat from freezer burn.
Things You'll Need
- Freezer bags
- Plastic containers
- Aluminum foil
- Vacuum seal kit, optional
Instructions
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Re-package meats. If you plan to freeze meat for a long period of time, repackage it before placing it in the freezer. Repackaging can mean separating large packs of foods into smaller meals, or just placing a small package of meat inside of a Ziploc bag with as much of the air squeezed out of the package as possible.
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Vacuum seal meats. Vacuum seal kits can be a little costly, but people who purchase meats in bulk swear by them for protecting the meat for a long period of time.
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Use Plastic Freezer containers. Pre-cooked meats do well in plastic containers, but for no longer than about two months.
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Double it up. A double barrier on the meat will go a long way to protect it from freezer burn. You can first wrap the foods in plastic wrap or foil, then put it in freezer bags or plastic ware. You can put multiple wrapped single serving in one plastic container for organization and storage reasons.
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Don't purchase more than you can use in a couple of months. Since prolonged freezing can lead to freezer burn, it makes sense to avoid freezing meats for a prolonged length of time. By purchasing no more than you can consume, you avoid the need to keep meat long enough for it to develop freezer burn.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not re-freeze thawed meats without cooking them first
