What can save meat with freezer burn?
I have some beef that I left in my freezer far too long. It has freezer burn on the upper layer, and I don’t know what to do with it. Should I try to trim off the upper layer? Should I cook it slowly in the crock pot? Should I throw it away?
By the way, I also have a package of chicken breasts that are also old. I’ll be thawing those next and will need the same advice, assuming they also have some freezer burn.
I’ve learned my lesson: eat what you buy sooner rather than later.
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9 Answers
As soon as it is defrosted it cannot be put back in the freezer . When in doubt throw it out.
Freezer-burn is basically dehydration. It happens when the meat wasn’t sealed in a fully airtight/watertight wrapping and the freezer’s auto-de-icer literally sucks the moisture out of it.
You won’t be able to use it as a frying steak but if you stew it, long and slow (e.g in a crockpot) it should be fine. I wouldn’t use it if you’re cooking to impress a potential romantic partner but if you’re just cooking for yourself and you’re not too fussy, it should be okay.
Also, you can cook it and put the cooked meat back in the freezer.
This is a redneck cure and may horrify some folks but… I had a steak a while back that was freezer burnt pretty bad and instead of throwing it out I put it in a pitcher of water and mixed some salt in there. A lot of salt. I put it in the fridge and the next day it was just as tender as can be. It cooked up great and I had no problems with it.
Sometimes, once it’s defrosted, freezer-burned meat smells fine… sometimes it smells, well, freezer-y. If that’s the case, I would cut off the dried up part and see if the rest smelled ok. Hoew were these items packaged?
@DWW25921 I’m trying that next time!
@ccrow They were put in Zip-loc bags made for the freezer, but I still think the biggest problem is that I left them in there for a very long time. They’ve been in there so long I can’t remember.
The freezer ziplocs are actually not that great… I use them anyway, but for example, I freeze boneless chicken breast by wrapping it first in wax paper, then putting the wax paper bundles in freezer bags. Don’t you use the little label part of the bag for the date?:-) Neither do I, usually
@Hawaii_Jake Freezing things does not meat that it still doesn’t go bad all it does is slow down the process drastically and even in the freezer meat and things do go bad thats why they say to use things by certain time frame or chuck them out. I would chuck it if it is a case of being in the freezer too long so to avoid getting sick.
I agree – if it’s been there longer than 6 months its no good anyway, freezer-burn or not.
Get a non-frost free freezer, then make sure the meat is vacuum sealed. (you can get ziplocks that have a check valve and pump). You’ll have to chip ice off the walls of your freezer on occasion but you will not see freezer burn.
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