topic Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it? in Kitchen

STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Flatbush — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:30:41 GMT

I bought a package of stew meat in 1" pieces. I will not be able to use it very soon, so I want the best way to freeze it and not have freezer burn. How shall I freeze it?

TIA

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

ManyMeows — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:32:54 GMT

😃 Lock n Lock containers work best for me.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Venezia — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:36:10 GMT

Butchers used to wrap fresh meat in something like parchment paper, ready for the freezer. If you have any, I'd do that, then put it in a freezer-safe container.

Or at the very least into a Ziploc freezer bag, with at little air as possible.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

We rescue cats — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:38:59 GMT

I use a vacuum sealer and it works everytime, I bought it on QVC, it's a Cuisinart rechargable handheld. I used a countertop unit for 10+ years but bought this one for the motorhome several years ago and absolutely love it. Our meat never has freezerburn.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Coastalcarolina — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:51:31 GMT

Another vote for vacuum sealed 👍

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

fthunt — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:19:40 GMT

No vac sealer machine? Wrap meat in plastic wrap and put in Zip Lock............now it's air tight.

It would take a year to get freezer burn..........

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

SilleeMee — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:22:50 GMT

First wrap it with saran wrap or wax paper/butchers paper then wrap it again with foil. It's the foil that will protect it the most.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Trailrun23 — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:24:04 GMT

Warning about using Lock & Lock in the freezer. I have used it to freeze things, but I dropped a Lock&Lock container while taking it out of the freezer, and it shattered like glass on the floor. I don't use it in the freezer anymore, just for pantry or fridge storage. I think the vacuum sealer works best, but you can also tightly wrap in butcher's paper and then place in a freezer Ziploc bag that you squeeze as much air out of as you can before sealinmg.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Roscoe the Rascal — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 19:24:46 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
No vac sealer machine? Wrap meat in plastic wrap and put in Zip Lock............now it's air tight.
It would take a year to get freezer burn..........

That is what I do.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

On It — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 21:15:11 GMT

I use Reynolds's Freezer Paper to wrap the meat. Then I put it in a zipper plastic freezer bag. I label the bag with date and type of food.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

RedTop — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 21:23:39 GMT

If you're going to use this meat within a month, plastic wrap and a ziploc bag are fine. Beyond a month, I would suggest wrapping in heavy duty aluminum foil or actual freezer paper.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Kachina624 — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 23:13:52 GMT

Wrap and seal in an airtight package. Air causes freezer burn. Don't plan on keeping any frozen meat over a year.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Flatbush — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 02:50:04 GMT

Good suggestions. I don't have freezer paper, or Lock n Lock etc.

This is what I eventually did: kept meat in the butcher tray wrapped with, what looks like Saran wrap. I made sure there were no leaks in the butcher tray or Saran wrap. Then I wrapped it all in heavy duty foil, nice and tight. Then I put it in a zip lock bag and sucked out as much air, through a straw as I could, and added a dated label. I will be using it in a week or so, so hopefully no freezer burn.

Thank you all for the help.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

judianne — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 03:02:19 GMT

l use saran wrap as others have stated l also double bag it , so 1- saran wrap , 2- freezer bag , 3- anouther freezer bag . l have had no problem . l also reuse the outer freezer bag as it is clean .

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 06:59:56 GMT

If the package of meat is the amount you intend to use, leave it alone and freeze it, as is. I t'll be fine for a few months in the freezer. Beyond that, use a vacuum sealer. Even though it's just DH and myself here, I buy meat in family packs, then divide them up at home that way.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

avid shopper — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 11:22:09 GMT

OMG...I haven't had "stew meat" since I left home 51 years ago. My mom always used it in her spaghetti sauce. It was all I knew so I ate it without question.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Othereeeen — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 12:25:01 GMT

Put it in the freezer and plan to use it this week or next.

It'll be fine. After you cook it, if there's some left over, freeze in freezer containers and use it up soon.

I don't understand saving meat for decades in the freezer in ANY kind of container.

And yes I know people have freezers....usually with more than a few packages of mystery meats way in the back or down at the bottom....

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Sooner — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 12:27:02 GMT

@Coastalcarolina wrote:
Another vote for vacuum sealed 👍

@Coastalcarolina You are right! It's the only way to go. Every home should have one.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

evelyner — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 14:16:54 GMT

If I put meat in the freezer I Saran Wrap a few times. It does the trick.

Re: STEW MEAT & FREEZER BURN- How to avoid it?

Sakuya — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 16:34:05 GMT

If I am going to use it in a couple of weeks I just put it in freezer how it came at the store.