How to Tell a Freezer Burn on Meat

Freezer burn occurs when the moisture on the outer section of meat evaporates in the freezer. When the moisture evaporates, it leaves behind dry pockets in the meat, which causes it to appear discolored. Eating freezer-burned food will not harm you, but it greatly affects the flavor and texture of the meat. You cannot reverse freezer burn, but you can remove the affected areas before you prepare the meat.

Things You'll Need

• Kitchen knife

Instructions

1. Remove the meat from the freezer to inspect it. Examine it closely for areas of discoloration. The meat may have brownish-white or white areas of discoloration when it becomes freezer burned. Examine the outside and edges of the meat closely.

2. Thaw the frozen meat in the refrigerator. You cannot always tell if the meat has freezer burn while it remains frozen. Once the meat thaws, look for the patches of discoloration on the meat.

3. Cut away any freezer-burned areas with a knife if possible. Discard the freezer-burned areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Wrap the meat tightly in two layers of plastic wrap or aluminum foil before you freeze it.

• Never thaw meat at room temperature to prevent the risk of a food-borne illness.

References

• University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County; Food Safety Questions - Is This Food Still Safe to Eat?; Alice Henneman, MS, RD, et al.; Sepbember 2003
• Purdue University Animal Sciences: Meat Spoilage
• University of Illinois Extension: Packaging and Repackaging Meat
• North Dakota State University Extension; Freezing Meat and Poultry; April 1995