If you don't have access to a vacuum sealer, try placing your food in an open freezer bag and sticking it in a pot full of water without submerging the opening. "The weight of the water forces almost all of the air out of the bag, and you can zip it just before it's about to sink," says Pace.
Ziploc® Freezer Bags are your indispensable ally. The Double Zipper seal helps lock in freshness with confidence you can see, feel and hear — from edge-to-edge, across the entire bag. Plus, it helps prevent freezer burn, meaning less food waste.
To prevent freezer burn from claiming your frozen foods, the best solution is to use a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealing your foods prevents freezer burn, as all the air from the packaging is removed. This creates a tight seal, that prevents foods from moisture loss and exposure to air.
Since freezer burn causes meat to dry out, you can counteract it with a brine. Salt can help mitigate moisture loss when cooked, making it one of the most important tools in your pantry.
According to the FSIS, freezer burn doesn't make food unsafe, but rather it makes it dry in spots which is a quality issue not food safety issue. These dry areas appear as grayish-brown spots and are caused by air coming into contact with the surface of the food.
Wrap Your Meat When Freezing
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, aluminum foil or airtight zip-loc bags.
Proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. Aluminum foil, freezer paper, plastic containers, and plastic freezer bags will help food maintain optimum quality in the freezer. Plastic wrap alone will not provide enough protection by itself, but can be used to separate foods within another package.
So, can you vacuum-seal your frozen meat? The answer is a resounding “yes”! Whether meat is fresh or already frozen when you purchase it, you can apply a vacuum packer to remove any remaining air from the bag. As a result, you reduce the potential risk of the dreaded freezer burn.
Use Wax Freezer Paper
Wax freezer paper and butcher paper are more effective than conventional plastic wrap.
The experts over at Ziploc told me that their freezer bags “are designed to protect in very low temperatures and harsh environments against punctures and tears.” So, in other words, while you can use a normal Ziploc bag to freeze food, chances are it won't escape the clutches of freezer burn and will be more prone to ...
Frozen meat will stay freezer burn-free on average between three to six months and for up to a year under ideal conditions, Barr said. Still, be on the lookout for those whitish spots or any nicks or tears in the wrapping, and choose the latest expiration or "best by" dates you see.
What happens to meat that's frozen too long? Food that is stored in a freezer at zero degrees will be safe to eat indefinitely. However, if meat is frozen too long it may lose quality and taste. If you are unsure if meat is still fresh, you can determine this once it has been thawed.
It is safe to freeze meat or poultry directly in its supermarket wrapping, but this type of wrap is thin and lets air in. Unless you will be using the food in a month or two, overwrap packages with airtight heavy-duty foil or freezer wrap. This should protect the product from freezer burn for longer storage.
Prevents Freezer Burn: For businesses that rely on frozen food storage, cling film is a lifesaver. It creates a protective layer that prevents freezer burn, which occurs when moisture within the food crystallizes. Freezer burn can degrade the quality of frozen items and lead to food wastage.
so freezer burn is more of a quality rather than a safety thing. meaning you can eat it but it's probably not going to taste very good.
Frozen Meats – Frozen raw meats that are properly vacuum sealed can be stored in the freezer from 1-3 years depending on the type of meat. However, raw meat that is not vacuum sealed will only last 1-12 months depending on the meat.
Frozen foods may have a shelf life for 1 year or more. Discard food received in packages that are torn or have been opened. This is a sign that the food may be unsafe to eat. After opening, tightly seal the remaining food in a freezer- safe bag to retain the quality and prevent freezer burn.
When frozen foods are covered in snow-like crystals, it's best to toss them. But if only small amounts of icy deposits are present, scrape them off and get cooking: Just be ready to adjust cooking times and/or add extra seasonings to make up for texture changes and loss of flavor.
If you've used the bags for food storage, we recommend handwashing. We don't recommend reusing the bag if it was used to store raw meat, fish or any allergy-triggering foods – safety first!
Refrigeration and proper storage are essential to slow bacterial growth and maintain optimal conditions for meat ageing. Additionally, vacuum sealing and modified atmosphere packaging help extend the shelf life of meats by reducing exposure to oxygen, which can cause spoilage and off-flavours.
A vacuum sealer is ideal to store your meat, but use freezer paper and a freezer bag if a vacuum sealer is not available. Double wrap the meat in a combination of plastic wrap and aluminum foil or plastic wrap and parchment paper. 5. Place the meat in plastic bags and seal tightly.