topic Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today in Kitchen

Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Biftu — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:56:22 GMT

i noticed my chicken, steaks, etc. all had frost in the freezer bags. I must have thought at the time I packaged them properly but I guess not. None of these meats have been frozen for a year. I guess they are ok to eat but I'm not feeling good about them. How do you freeze your meats to avoid freezer burn? I'm getting tempted to buy a vacuum sealer, but don't really want to deal with it. If you have a vacuum sealer how do you like it?

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

luvmybeetle — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:01:41 GMT

I have a vacuum sealer and I love it. I take the meat out of the packaging and seal it in separate packages. The hamburgs and steaks from Rastelli's I just leave in their packaging. My vacuum sealer has saved a lot of meat for me. It keeps for months.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Kachina624 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:04:01 GMT

I think everything will be freezer burned if kept long enough. I cleaned out my freezer last week the night before garbage day and threw out 15+ lbs of meat. Shameful waste. I just don't cook much anymore.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Nonametoday — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:12:33 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I think everything will be freezer burned if kept long enough. I cleaned out my freezer last week the night before garbage day and threw out 15+ lbs of meat. Shameful waste. I just don't cook much anymore.

@Kachina624

I do the same thing from time to time and clean out my refrigerator and throw out, probably 5 (partially filled) bottles of catsup, 2-3 mustard, 3-4 mayos, hot sauces, pepper sauce, terriyaki sauce, etc. I leave cleaning my freezer to a lady I pay to do it and that way I don't mourn over the money wasted on meat never cooked.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Justholdingon — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:33:45 GMT

won't be without my vacuum sealer. saves tons of money when i buy meats and hash browns in bulk. you do have to make the time to vacuum seal everything when you do your bulk buying though, but that's usually just once every couple of months for us as we have a separate freezer.
we also marinate meats and vacuum seal and it makes the meats even more savory when ready to use.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

drizzellla — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:34:30 GMT

I keep saying to myself I am going to clean out the freezer in our garage. BUT I seem to easily find an excuse to put it off. I admire you @Biftu for doing it.

But I also want to clean out the refrigerator in my kitchen too. About a month ago I opened a squeeze bottle of Hellman's mayonaise. Have not been able to find it since I opened it. So I want to take everything out and clean the refrigerator.

I checked all the drawers and shelves for the Hellman's. Guess I just chalk it up to another kitchen mystery.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Sooner — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:37:05 GMT

@Biftu wrote:
i noticed my chicken, steaks, etc. all had frost in the freezer bags. I must have thought at the time I packaged them properly but I guess not. None of these meats have been frozen for a year. I guess they are ok to eat but I'm not feeling good about them. How do you freeze your meats to avoid freezer burn? I'm getting tempted to buy a vacuum sealer, but don't really want to deal with it. If you have a vacuum sealer how do you like it?

@Biftu We would not be without one. They are easy to use and we freeze things in those bags all the time. No frost, no freezer burn.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Sooner — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:39:26 GMT

We are "eating the freezers" to restock for fall/winter. So far this week we have cleaned out the kitchen cabinets, the pantry in the house and the annex pantry in the garage, and the bar.

It feels SOOOOOOOOOOOO good! We did the inside cabinets the day before trash day.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

beach-mom — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:46:14 GMT

You'd be surprised how long frozen meat actually lasts. We recently went to a major supplier to pick up steaks they had for us so we could prepare meals for those in need. The steaks looked good, but the package date was over a year ago. The man in charge said they are still OK to use, but they wouldn't be as flavorful. We turned them down and decided to ask people to buy a pound of ground beef when they shop for themselves. That was a good idea and people were generous!

I also have a vacuum sealer, but use it mostly for vegetables. From time to time I buy a family pack of ground round, divide it in three portions, and use my sealer. I have an older model, but it works fine.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

drizzellla — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:22:04 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
We are "eating the freezers" to restock for fall/winter. So far this week we have cleaned out the kitchen cabinets, the pantry in the house and the annex pantry in the garage, and the bar.

It feels SOOOOOOOOOOOO good! We did the inside cabinets the day before trash day.

I have been trying to do the same thing. So for dinner when my husband asked what we are having, I reply "Freezer Surprise".

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Biftu — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:27:36 GMT

Ok, i started searching for vacuum sealer and became a bit overwhelmed, so many to choose from. i don't need anything fancy since I don't buy in bulk or freeze all that much. For those who have a vacuum sealer could you recommend what features you find helpful? Also, do all replacement bags work on all models? I don't want to buy a model that I have trouble finding bags for.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

deeva — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:52:35 GMT

I've had a Foodsaver for twenty years. I have a basic model a moist and dry setting for sealing. I only use Foodsaver or Seal a Meal bags ( also made by Foodsaver). The bags work on all Foodsaver brand vacuum sealers.

I seldom use the setting for sealing the Foodsaver canisters.
If you don't buy in bulk or freeze that much, you probably don't need a Foodsaver.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Scooby Doo — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:24:11 GMT

Have you tried wrapping the meat in freezer paper or aluminum foil, then put in a zip plastic bag? It works quite well. But don't forget to write on the bag, or put a note inside, of the contents and date.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Nonametoday — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 05:10:21 GMT

@Scooby Doo wrote:
Have you tried wrapping the meat in freezer paper or aluminum foil, then put in a zip plastic bag? It works quite well. But don't forget to write on the bag, or put a note inside, of the contents and date.

@Scooby Doo

My grandmother was faithful to seek information from the county agent (which is a division of the state university that has an agricultural and home economics department) and the information is supplied by them. She always told me to wrap in aluminum foil and plastic. Otherwise, it would be freezer burned. She even did bread that way and it kept forever. I wish I was such a handy housewife as she. It looks like we may be going into a Depression so I may have to learn.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

aubnwa01 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:51:39 GMT

I buy most of my meat at Costco & repackage it into meal sized packages with my Foodsaver for my freezer when I get home.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Roscoe the Rascal — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 10:19:35 GMT

I try and eat what is in the freezer as often as possible. I hate when I toss and think what was the reason for buying it then. Not saving anything that way. We just don't eat like we once did. When I get stuff from the Q a box of whatever it is lasts a longtime. We share with my daughter and family who live next door now. Less waste for sure.

Our freezer is what we call the community freezer. If she didn't help herself now and then we would have way too much. They have a freezer too but ours is the extras or meals we share together mostly. My hubby loves to shop for food. I love to shop for everything else!

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Jo1313 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:11:44 GMT

Wouldn't be without my foodsaver...I make portion sized pkgs...I foodsaver cooked food also..Nice to take a pouch out with something when I don't feel like cooking..

Rolls and bags are available in most kitchen Depts..I just ordered some from BB&B and used the 20% off coupon...the bags you make are reusable.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

kaydee50 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:59:26 GMT

DH uses the handheld vacuum sealer that we got from HSN. We don't vacuum large amounts of anything so this smaller version works well for us.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:47:20 GMT

I've had a Food Saver since QVC first introduced them. My first one was a Food Saver and it lasted for almost 20 years. Its replacement is a NutriChef from Amazon that works just as well as the first one and was much less expensive. I don't use any of the accessory pieces, just quart and gallon bags.

I shop at BJ's and buy our meats and some fish in bulk. I break them down into more manageable portions, shrink wrap and freeze them. They're always in perfect condition when I use them. It's also great for storing hard cheeses, which I can reseal as needed. Earlier this week I broke down an 11 pound pork loin roast into 2 roasts and 2 packs of 4 chops. I froze the chops & one roast and cooked the other roast a few days later. I estimate that I've saved thousands of dollars buying in bulk. I wouldn't have been able to do this to a great extent without my food saver. I've never had to throw anything that I've shrink wrapped away.

Re: Cleaned out my Freezer Today

LindaSal — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:13:23 GMT

I generally wrap my meats in saran wrap and then place it in a freezer bag (Ziploc). It seems to work pretty well. You really do need a seperate freezer that does not self defrost. It's the defrosting mechanism that causes the frost to form on the food. I don't presently own an additional freezer but have been bugging DH for awhile now to research them.