Unsealed meat in freezer

Below is my situation:

Is completely (vacuum) sealing leftover meat in the freezer absolutely necessary? I would always just use a plastic bag to cover the meat and fold it around couple of times so it's almost as good as sealed (usually grocery plastic bag is much bigger than the piece of meat) and have never had a problem with it last a decade or so I have been cooking.

But recently I got this new roommate who insists on me using special small plastic bags with sealers to use and he is being very paranoid, obsessive about it.

So my question is: Is he right?

food-safety food-preservation

Best Answer

If you are noticing freezer burn or foreign odors/flavors with your loosely-wrapped meat, then you need to do a better job of storing it.

Your roommate may be in this habit because he is used to storing things in the freezer for a longer period. 2-3 weeks is longer than I would store something loosely wrapped like that in order to maintain good quality.

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Does meat have to be sealed in the freezer?

According to USDA guidelines on freezing and food safety, freezing these foods to 0\xb0F (-18\xb0C) inactivates microbes like bacteria, yeasts, and mold as well as slows enzyme activity \u2014 all of the stuff that can cause your food to go bad. The good news is no fancy vacuum sealer is required to safely freeze meat.

Is it possible for meat to go bad in the freezer?

According to the USDA, frozen meat kept at 0\xb0F or lower will always technically be safe to eat. This low temperature prevents the growth of microorganisms and microbes like bacteria and mold. But that doesn't mean it will taste good forever.

Does frozen meat need to be airtight?

The most important thing is to avoid exposing frozen meat to outside air. While a vacuum-sealer is ideal for ensuring that meats are packaged correctly, you can get by just fine with double wrapping cuts of meat with freezer paper, plastic wrap, aluminum foil or airtight zip-loc bags.

How to Safely Freeze Cooked Meats | 1 Minute Tips | DJ BBQ

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