Freeze meat before or after cooking?
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If I am not going to immediately eat meat, should I freeze it before or after cooking it? How is taste and freshness affected by your choice of when to freeze it? I've done both options, but I've never compared the final preparation side by side.
Best Answer
For whole cuts of meat such as a steak or a chicken breast, I find it's better to freeze without cooking. These cuts aren't as moist after thawing them and re-heating.
For ground meat, it doesn't seem to matter. If I have the time I will cook and then freeze to save myself the effort durring the week.
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Quick Answer about "Freeze meat before or after cooking?"
βRaw meat and poultry maintain their quality longer (when frozen) than their cooked counterparts because moisture is lost during cooking.β βMeat and poultry defrosted in the refrigerator may be refrozen before or after cooking. If thawed by other methods, cook before refreezing.βCan you freeze cooked meat that was frozen before?
The answer is yes. But pay attention to the way you thaw and, conversely, the way you freeze. Most foods previously frozen, thawed and then cooked can be refrozen as long as they have not been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.When should you freeze meat?
Cold Food Storage ChartFoodTypeFreezer (0 \xb0F or below)Hamburger, ground meats and ground poultryHamburger, ground beef, turkey, chicken, other poultry, veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them3 to 4 monthsFresh beef, veal, lamb, and porkSteaks4 to 12 monthsChops4 to 12 monthsRoasts4 to 12 months49 more rows•Sep 20, 2021Why does meat have to be defrosted before cooking?
If food is still frozen or partially frozen, it will take longer to cook. The outside of the food could be cooked, but the centre might not be, which means it could contain harmful bacteria. Do you check food is thoroughly defrosted before cooking?Is it safe to refreeze meat after cooking?
If the meat is already cooked, you will lose a lot of the texture and flavor if you thaw and refreeze it again, so we do not recommend refreezing cooked meat. You should also not freeze (or refreeze) any meats that have been sitting at room temperature for longer than 2 hours or at a 90\u02da or higher for more than 1 hour.How to Safely Freeze Cooked Meats | 1 Minute Tips | DJ BBQ
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