Should you wash beef before freezing?
I have bought a 3 kg vacuum-sealed package of ribeye steaks. The steaks are very fresh and are essentially floating in blood.
I would like to repackage the steaks one by one, so that I can thaw them separately. Should I wash them before freezing, or is it ok to directly package them in plastic wrap as they are?
Best Answer
Just a note, a pet peeve of mine and something that may help you feel better, that red liquid is not blood. It is Myoglobin, a protein that found only in muscle. Blood tends to spoil very rapidly and meat which was not properly drained of blood will typically spoil or at least taste unlike what you want. Myoglobin however as it ages is what helps give aged meat its distinct, and for many, better flavor. When meat is seared, it also contributes to the caramelized crust, another level of flavor many like. Myoglobin is related to Hemoglobin, red blood cells, and works with it to deliver oxygen to the muscle, but it is not the same and does not age the same.
As to what to do when repacking, well, as comments have given multiple answers, I would also say that is personal choice. For me, best taste is to still have some, but a lot of the liquid is just messy, so I would tend to pat some off but not rinse or wash. Rinse if you prefer, but I certainly would not soak or scrub. When you thaw, almost certainly more will be released from the steak, so in the end the results will likely be about the same between patting and leaving it. I would just think you will want to minimize introducing ice crystals which may reduce the quality of the frozen and thawed meat.
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Quick Answer about "Should you wash beef before freezing?"
It is not necessary to wash meat before freezing it. Doing this could increase the risk of cross-contamination in the same way as it would before cooking. Once the meat has defrosted again, cooking it will kill all of the bacteria anyway. People can freeze any meat.Is it important to wash meat before storing?
Washing raw meat with plain water is ineffective at removing bacteria and may cause more harm than good by spreading foodborne pathogens to other foods and across cooking surfaces.How do you prepare beef for freezing?
It's important to wrap steak (and all meats) well before freezing. Wrap in at least two layers, like plastic wrap and then aluminum foil or parchment paper in a freezer bag. Wrap the meat tightly, pressing as much air out of the packaging as possible, since exposure to air can cause freezer burn.Does raw beef need to be washed?
Washing Meat and Poultry However, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination.Do you wash red meat?
Don't rinse meat before cooking. Many people believe you should wash or rinse raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb or veal before cooking, but it's actually not necessary. Any bacteria that might be on it will be killed during the cooking process. In fact, rinsing meat before cooking it can actually do more harm than good.Freezing and Thawing Beef 101 | How-To Tips from a Chef
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