When it comes to frozen beef, people have many questions, such as how long it can stay in good condition inside the freezer, how to store it in the right manner, can you refreeze beef, and how to thaw frozen beef in the right manner. These are some of the basic questions that can strike you, just as it happens with others when it comes to preparing beef at home. So, if you have bought some frozen beef tenderloin or other cuts in bulk and don’t know what to do with them, you can get the answers to your questions in this blog.
So, take a look at the questions and answers shared here, and hopefully, you will have the answers to your question.
How Long Frozen Beef Can Be Stored in the Freezer?
You can keep frozen beef stored in your freezer indefinitely. We are not saying it just like that, this has been stated by the United States Department of Agriculture. So, if you have some food that has been stored in the freezer for years, it is still safe for consumption. However, this does not imply that if you cook it after years, it would still taste great.
What Is the Right Way to Store Frozen Beef in the Freezer?
If you want to store the beef in the right manner in the freezer, then here’s what you need to do:
Possibly you have come across the term freezer burn. Freezer burn occurs when the food’s surface comes into contact with the air. Although it is completely safe to eat such food, due to freezer burn, the food becomes dry and can even become discolored. And the taste of food can also be affected. So, the correct way to store frozen beef tenderloin and other cuts in your freezer is after vacuum-sealing them.
Generally, when frozen beef or other meat is sold, the supplier flash freezes the beef, as it helps to prevent ice crystals from forming on the meat, which makes the top layer leathery. However, it may not be possible at home. So, for home storage, it is recommended by experts to spread the beef out; this makes sure that every piece of the beef freezes as quickly as possible. And, once all the pieces have frozen, you can keep the beef stacked.
Further, for home storage, you should also ensure that the temperature of the freezer is below (-) ten degrees Celsius. This is to ensure that the food stays safe from microorganisms like yeast, mold, bacteria, etc.
Can You Re-Freeze the Beef?
We encounter many situations in life due to different reasons. Similarly, for various reasons, you may thaw the food and then decide to cook it the next day. So, now you are left with thawed meat that you don’t want to throw away. You may want to place it back in the freezer, but this is not recommended for safety reasons. While it is true that freezing can prevent the growth of bacteria, it is also true that freezing does not kill bacteria. When you thaw the frozen meat for the first time, the temperature of the meat goes up, which allows bacteria to grow, which is normal.
How to Thaw Frozen Beef Safely?
Now, let’s come to thawing and share with you how you can thaw your frozen beef well. There will definitely come a time when you need to thaw the frozen beef. Now, here is what you need to do.
Refrigerator Thawing
Thawing in the refrigerator is one of the best methods to thaw frozen beef. Keeping it overnight for twenty-four hours will easily thaw the frozen meat.
And, large bone-in-pieces—for instance, pieces of brisket meat—can take forty-eight hours to get thawed. Make sure that you place the frozen meat in a bowl to avoid any leaking.
Water Thawing
Another way you can thaw the meat is by defrosting the frozen beef by submerging it in water, without removing the beef’s packaging. This can be done by just placing the frozen, fresh beef inside a container filled with water. However, make sure that the whole meat stays completely submerged. And, also, you can change the water every half an hour to thaw it properly.
Microwave Thawing
If you want to prepare the beef dish in the fastest way possible, just after thawing it, you can use the microwave for the complete procedure. However, remember that this method is only recommended when you plan to cook the meat right away after thawing. This is because after thawing, if you take it out, there is a high chance that the food will become a breeding ground for bacteria, as partially cooked beef is an ideal place for bacteria to grow.
Conclusion
Now that you are at the end of the blog, hopefully, some of your questions have been addressed here. So, if you have bought frozen beef tenderloin in bulk or will in the future, you will know how to handle it well, whether it is about storing the beef or safely thawing it. And, if you are based in Brazil and looking for where to get the best beef cuts, then you can get in touch with Brazil Chicken S.I.F. To place your order or contact the service provider, you can dial 011 4948-3670 or drop a mail at sales@brazilchickensif.com.
2 replies on “All That You Need to Know About Handling Frozen Beef.”
[…] Learn about the different things you need to know about handling frozen beef tenderloin and other cuts, for instance, how to store frozen beef, and more. […]
It is really a little difficult for first-timers to handle frozen beef. This blog has cleverly covered this topic and presented with the most practical solutions. Thanks to the writer.