How Can You Safely Store Meat?
Food storage mistakes can have major consequences.
At best, you’re wasting precious ingredientsand big bucks at the grocery storeunnecessarily.
Where should meat be kept in the fridge, and when is the right time to freeze it?
And what’s the best, safest way to thaw meat when it’s frozen?
You want to store your meat tightly wrapped to minimize exposure to air.
Always with a tight seal.
Plastic wrap is a great option for resealing fresh meat, or for wrapping to freeze.
“But never refreeze meat!”
Freezing and Thawing
When is the best time to freeze meat?
What’s the best way to thaw meat?
Thaw the meat gently.
Rapid freezing and gentle thawing are the best way to avoid compromising the quality of the meat.
For small packages of meat (around a pound), this doesn’t take very longapproximately an hour.
Larger packages may take up to two hours.
I wouldn’t recommend rapid-thawing anything over 3 to 4 pounds."
Is thawing in the microwave okay?
“I strongly discourage this.
Can you stick a partly frozen piece of meat in the oven?
It won’t cook evenly and will most likely destroy the texture of the meat in the process.”
Food Safety Smarts
How can you tell if meat is safe to eat?
First and foremost, trust your senses.
Fresh meat should be stored in a refrigerator at 40 F or below.
“We recommend using fresh, paper-wrapped meats within three to four days of purchase.
“The sooner you cook meat, the fresher and more delicious it will be.
And then gently thaw!”
