This will be a short post. I'm trying to keep them short but blog daily. This isn't a pretty post either...more practical. You probably already know this but if you were raised by a career woman and you were a career woman and you never had home economics you might find this enlightening like I did! LOL!
I used to throw meat from the grocery store into the freezer "as is" but I would get freezer burn if it stayed in there for any length of time. I "googled" how to prevent freezer burn and here's what I learned.
1. You need freezer paper...duh, this has been sitting in my sewing room for years as I use it for my wool appliques....who knew it was called Freezer Paper for a reason? LOL!
2. You also need freezer "tape" which I did not have but in watching a video it looked a lot like masking tape and I had that so I used masking tape. I went to the store later and looked for freezer tape and they had some and guess what? It looked just like masking tape, imagine that?!?!
3. As usual I left out a few pictures in the process (I need a camera person) as my hands were all bloody from handling the meat. But the next step is to take the meat out of the original packaging and throw it all away....the packaging not the meat! The packaging it comes in is not meant to be permanent (although THEY, the stores, freeze it that way sometimes....I guess if THEY do it it's okay?). You lay a sheet of freezer paper with the plastic side on top and lay your meat on that. Wrap it up by overlapping the paper and taping it tightly with no pockets of air.
4. Then you put it inside an appropriately sized plastic freezer bag and remove as much air as possible from that too.
5. You can either label the freezer paper or the plastic bag. I labeled the plastic but next time I will label the freezer paper as I will wash and reuse the bags. When you label be sure and put the amount, the type and the date you froze it. Yes, I have actually not labeled things and then wonder why I can't figure out what it is without defrosting it....kind of like "mystery meat".....not great for meal planning either.
You all are probably way ahead of me on this stuff but this is the sad story of what happens when a career gal retires. Some days I feel like I'm back in kindergarten! LOL! But I'm still able to retain knowledge so I guess that's a good sign!
Happy Trails!
I used to throw meat from the grocery store into the freezer "as is" but I would get freezer burn if it stayed in there for any length of time. I "googled" how to prevent freezer burn and here's what I learned.
1. You need freezer paper...duh, this has been sitting in my sewing room for years as I use it for my wool appliques....who knew it was called Freezer Paper for a reason? LOL!
2. You also need freezer "tape" which I did not have but in watching a video it looked a lot like masking tape and I had that so I used masking tape. I went to the store later and looked for freezer tape and they had some and guess what? It looked just like masking tape, imagine that?!?!
5. You can either label the freezer paper or the plastic bag. I labeled the plastic but next time I will label the freezer paper as I will wash and reuse the bags. When you label be sure and put the amount, the type and the date you froze it. Yes, I have actually not labeled things and then wonder why I can't figure out what it is without defrosting it....kind of like "mystery meat".....not great for meal planning either.
Happy Trails!
Great tutorial! I usually buy the family size packs and repackage because of the money savings. Just goes to show that you're never too old learn learn something new!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I know, Betsy. I love Google and the internet. It's so much better than those old encyclopedias! LOL!
DeleteThis is new to me too. I did not know about freezer paper. We freeze meat by putting it in a plastic bag and freezing it. Is that shocking? LOL
ReplyDeleteNo, not shocking at all. In fact, I thought I was the only one that didn't already know this. LOL!
DeleteInteresting! I usually just repackage in freezer bags. I often get ice crystals from the moisture. You will have to let us know how this works.
ReplyDeleteI will let you know. It's got to be better than me just throwing it in the freezer "as is"! LOL!
DeleteWell, this DOES sound like a better idea. I always put my meat inside a ziplock bag and throw it in the freezer. It would probably be better to wrap it like this first. Meat if so expensive....it is worth it! Thanks for the tips! Happy weekend my friend! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYou're are so right about meat being expensive but at least you put yours in a freezer bag. I didn't even do that! LOL!
DeleteI have had that freezer paper for a long time that I intended to use for needleturn appliqué. Maybe I should just use it for the meat to use it up? I buy Freezer Go Between from the supermarket for meat etc and it is probably similar!
ReplyDeleteYep, I had a big box of it that I used for my wool applique and it said right on the box..."Freezer Paper" but I never thought of using it for that purpose...Ha! Ha!
DeleteI did not know about this. I've always just put the meat straight in the freezer. Thanks for sharing! X
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who just threw it in the freezer! LOL!
DeleteHello Sam I have really enjoyed catching up on your recent posts, and I always find useful tips or learn something new from you! You are such a busy bee!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy weekend.
Helen xox
Same to you Helen! I'll be by to catch up later....the weather here has turned so nice I have been busy outside. Have a great weekend!
DeleteWe go through our freezer food too fast (with a big family), but when the kiddos start moving out, I'll need to do that too. Nice tutorial.
ReplyDeleteActually, Katrina, I think that is why it was never an issue for me as there were 6 of us and we went through it so fast it didn't have time to get freezer burn but those days are over and now it's just me, myself, and I! LOL! And "the girls" but they don't get my meat.
DeleteGreat tip! Mahalo.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, Sam! We usually get our meat from my BIL when he has a calf to butcher. Then we will usually get 1/2 a beef and the butcher prepares it in vacuum bags with the type of meat inside. I realized this year that we should date it as we have a few bits left over from last year and now I can't tell the new from the old. :) It's always fun to learn something new!
ReplyDelete