Does ice on frozen meat, mean it's bad?!


Question: My mom never taught me much about food or cooking. But, when I buy meats like hamburger or stew meat I usally just put them straight to the freezer. Should I have wrapped them in something else first? I have some stew meat that I was planning to use tonightt, but yesterday when I took it out of the freezer to thaw, there was ice inside the container. Is this ok? It's packaged in a plastic container with a plastic shrink wrap type stuff over top. Is this considered freezer burn?


Answers: My mom never taught me much about food or cooking. But, when I buy meats like hamburger or stew meat I usally just put them straight to the freezer. Should I have wrapped them in something else first? I have some stew meat that I was planning to use tonightt, but yesterday when I took it out of the freezer to thaw, there was ice inside the container. Is this ok? It's packaged in a plastic container with a plastic shrink wrap type stuff over top. Is this considered freezer burn?

Over the internet it is hard for me to explain the difference appearance between freezer burn and just your usual ice crystals. I would guess an accurate description of freezer burn is when it is white and sort of furry looking ice, not like big granuals, like how kosher salt looks....Maybe someone else can do that. Has it been long since you put the meat in the freezer? I typically only have meat in there about 2 - 4 weeks depending on the sales I picked up. I know you can keep it longer, but that is just how I shop. Yes I have heard it is best to wrap your meat in meat paper, or seal it in some type of air tight container, but I never have, and I have been cooking about 16 years and I haven't had any problems. So as long as the meat in question hasn't been in the freezer for a very long time, I think your good to go.

well, if the ice doesnt melt quickly then, i guess you should through them away

Hi, that is considered freezer burn..I dont think if you had it in there a short time, any harm was done..try next to when you store in the bag, to let all the air out.
Not an expert, have a good day.

ice on meat is fine. just thaw it off. freezer burn is a discoloration to the meat. where the moisture has been drawn from it and creates like a dry spot. freezer burn is usually on the surface of the meat and can be cut off and the meat will be fine. if you cook it with the burn spot on it, it will taste awful. if you cut away the burn you wont taste anything funky.





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