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The Best Way to Store Meat
and How Long It Can Be StoredA recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of HelloFresh found that the average American spends nearly $3,000 a year on unused groceries. According to 70% of people who took the survey, the main reason for food being thrown away was that the food spoiled before they were able to use it.
The survey participants were asked which foods they believed were the most difficult to use up before they spoiled and had to be thrown away. Meat was cited as the ninth most wasted food item (see the article The 10 Most Thrown Away Foods and How to Save Them for the complete list of most thrown away food items).
Storing in Refrigerator
Most fresh meat can be stored in the refrigerator in the manufacturer's packaging, plastic wrapped meat tray or butcher paper wrap in which it was sold. Be certain to cook or freeze all meats before the "Use or Freeze By" date marked on the package. If you vacuum seal your meat immediately after purchase it can be kept for an additional 5 days beyond the "Use or Freeze By" date before needing to be cooked or frozen.
Storing in Freezer
Placing food into your freezer is the best way to keep food fresh for a longer amount of time. Using a vacuum sealer, as well as following the proper freezing guidelines for each type of food, can prevent freezer burn for an extended amount of time while also preserving your food's integrity. Meats, like beef, poultry and fish, generally only stay fresh for about six months when stored in the freezer using conventional methods. Using a vacuum sealer can extend the shelf life of your meats to about two to three years.
Using a vacuum sealer can extend the shelf life of your meats to about two to three years.
If you don't have a vacuum sealer, the best way to freeze meat to avoid freezer burn is to wrap in plastic wrap and then wrap again in aluminum foil. The double wrapped meat should be placed into a freezer bag. Write the contents of the bag along with the date the item was placed into the bag onto a piece of paper placed into the bag or write directly on the bag. See the chart below to find out how long you can store every type of meat in the freezer.
Advantage of Vacuum Sealing
Vacuum sealing removes air around the food, which prevents bacteria from growing and spoiling the food. In most cases, vacuum-sealed meat shelf life is double or triple non-vacuum-sealed meat. Vacuum sealed ground beef and other food items can reduce food waste by creating an extended shelf life.
Vacuum sealed raw meats can be kept in your refrigerator for up to 10 days needing to be cooked or frozen. In comparison, raw meat that is not vacuum sealed will only last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator before spoiling.
Frozen raw meats that are properly vacuum sealed can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 years depending on the type of meat. Raw meat that isn't vacuum sealed will only last 1 to 12 months depending on the meat.
Frozen raw meats that are properly vacuum sealed can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 years depending on the type of meat.
How Long Meats Can be Stored
