How to Fix Freezer-Burned Meat

Remove freezer-burned areas before cooking meat.

Meat can be expensive. Steak, roast, chicken, pork loin and other cuts of meat can eat into your food budget quickly. One thrifty way to combat this sticker shock is to stock up on meat when it's on sale and freeze any that you won't be using in the next day or two. Unfortunately, meat can "burn" in the freezer; this happens when meat is exposed to air at freezing temperatures and dries out, compromising its taste and texture. Fortunately, salvaging lightly freezer-burned meat is fast and easy.

Things You'll Need

• Knife or shears

Instructions

1. Defrost the freezer-burned meat in the microwave or in the refrigerator.

2. Look for spots on the meat that are discolored. Grayish-brown areas have been freezer-burned.

3. Cut away any discolored areas.

4. Cook the remaining meat as you normally would.

Tips & Warnings

• The best remedy for freezer burn is prevention. Reduce freezer burn by using vacuum-sealed or air-tight bags. Press as much of the air as possible out of your storage bags before you freeze your meat.

• If the meat is too badly freezer-burned, either throw it away or use it for stock. Freezer burn causes meat to dry out; cooked freezer-burned meat can taste very dry.

References

• SheKnows: How to Freeze Meat Without Freezer Burn