If you like to cook at home like I do, you know that it is not difficult to fill your fridge and freezer to the brim. In an effort to save EVERYTHING, I end up with so many containers that there isn’t even enough room for the new groceries sitting on the counter. When it comes to buying meat, however, there’s no need to add to this disorganized chaos.
Buying meat in bulk is much cheaper than purchasing it in individual sized portions. If you eat a lot of meat, you probably buy it in bulk. And if this is the case, then you know the struggle of preserving it all. As with any food bought in bulk, it can quickly go bad.
Freezing the extra meat is the right idea, but many people go about it in the wrong way. The One Pot Chef has seen the same mistake over and over again: because of improper organization, many people waste space in their freezers. On top of that, the meat doesn’t always thaw correctly. This food expert wanted to help.
He has shared his ingenious advice so that no one has to suffer by sifting through countless containers in their freezers. If you freeze your meat his way, you are sure to be spared A LOT of hassle.
The One Pot Chef noticed that many consumers try to freeze their minced beef in one big ball. They wad it up, put it in a tupperware container, and stick it in the freezer. This might be the worst way to preserve the product.
When the meat is frozen in this way, it takes up a lot of extra space. Treating minced meat like a solid object when it can take any form is downright silly. This chef explains that by placing the meat in a plastic bag, you really improve your chances of finding the perfect place to put it.
Place the minced meat inside an appropriately sized plastic bag. Seal the bag, then press down into the meat. Squish it down into its flattest form, so that it covers the entire bottom layer of the bag.
This genius hack does more than just save space. When you press the meat down to fill out the space of the bag, you increase the surface area of the food. That means that the meat will now freeze more quickly and thaw more quickly. That’s right, you can shave time off of your meal prep routine just by packaging food in the best way.
This is especially useful if you need to use only a portion of the meat. You can get what you need a lot more quickly, and you significantly reduce your chances of spoiling the meat you aren’t going to use yet.
The One Pot Chef explains that the same idea can be used when organizing steaks. Instead of stacking them up in a container, lay each stake flat in a plastic bag. Again, the meat will take up less freezer space and will thaw more quickly.
Some people will always consider cooking an ordeal, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be at least a little easier. Keep this trick in mind next time you are unpacking your groceries.
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