What's the best way to store (freeze) purchased ground beef?
When I buy my ground beef at the store it comes in a styrofoam tray with some sort of pad underneath to catch any excess blood (at least, I believe that to be the reason for the pad) and it is wrapped in cellophane of some sort, and appears to hold the meat rather well.
Is it safe and sane to freeze it like this or should I be transferring it from that packaging to an alternate ... container? ... before storing?
Best Answer
It is not only sane, it is safer than any other packaging you can make.
At least here in Germany, meat from the supermarket is not just wrapped in celophane, the celophane is glued to the tray. The packaging is air-proof. And the air inside the packaging is not normal air, it is a mostly sterile atmosphere with a composition different from normal air, which hampers bacterial growth (I think it has lowered oxygen content, but I'm not absolutely sure on that detail). This means that 1. no bacterial contamination is possible after the meat has left the packaging plant, and 2. the bacteria already present in the meat when it was packed grow slower than normal. So if this is your type of package, do yourself a favor and leave the meat in it.
I haven't frozen such packages, so I don't know how big a problem they have with freezer burn. But it may become a problem in the long term, as the moisture from the meat will sublimate on the inside of the celophane.
If this is not the type of package you get, and you have just plain clingy film wrapped around meat and a styrofoam tray (I've seen other products wrapped this way, but not meat), there is still no problem to freeze in it. The pad full of meat juices (this is not blood btw) is a good feeding place for bacteria, but the meat itself is as least as good as the pad, so you won't be reducing the risk if you remove it. By leaving the meat in the original package, you reduce the risk of additional bacterial contamination during transfer. And no other container will offer better food safety.
You can still consider a transfer for reasons other than food safety. First, you can portion and/or preshape the ground meat before freezing, and then you'll have to repackage it. Second, if the package is not tight enough, you risk freezer burn. But if these don't apply, it is probably best to leave it in the original container - this is convenient, and not dangerous at all .
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How do you freeze store bought ground beef?
Wrap a package of ground beef in plastic wrap, aluminum foil or freezer paper, or place in a freezer-safe bag before freezing. Taking this extra step minimizes the risk of freezer burn and prevents any freezer odors from infiltrating the ground beef.Can you freeze ground beef in its original packaging?
It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its original packaging, however this type of wrap is permeable to air and quality may diminish over time. For prolonged storage, overwrap these packages as you would any food for long-term storage. It is not necessary to rinse meat and poultry.What is the best way to wrap meat for freezing?
But our recommended method is actually to wrap the meat in butcher or freezer paper. This is a waxy coated paper (the waxy side should go towards the meat, with the paper side out). Wrap your cut of meat tightly in this paper, and tape it shut. Then wrap the whole package in an airtight layer of aluminum foil.Can I freeze ground beef in Tupperware?
As long as the meat isn't hot, this is fine. That's why a lot of people use Tupperware to store their raw meat in the freezer. Whether you are dealing with raw chicken or ground beef, Tupperware containers keep your meat fresh and prevent leakage and freezer burn. Ultimately, they do a better job than Ziploc bags.what. (Bo Burnham FULL SHOW HD)
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Answer 2
It probably also depends on the size of the package. If you're buying a large package, it makes sense to put it into smaller containers (I use ziplock freezer bags), so that you only need to thaw what you're going to use.
If you're buying a package that is small enough to use when you thaw it, then the package it comes in is ok. However, it seems like it might be problematic to remove the padding if you try to use it before it is fully thawed.
Answer 3
It's fine to leave it in the container to freeze it.
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