One way to prepare for the silly season is to cook some delicious meals and freeze them, so if you’ve had a long day you don’t need to slave over a hot stove.
But what happens when you take your juicy organic meat out of the freezer? Can you cook it and refreeze it for another night?
If the meat has already been cooked and thawed then it is not safe to refreeze it. So if you’ve thawed leftovers they need to be eaten or thrown away.
However, if it was frozen raw, thawed and then cooked you can pop the cooked meal back in the freezer. So if you’ve got a nice piece of casserole organic beef out of the freezer to thaw, it is best to cook it up and then put the entire meal back in the oven. You cannot just put the meat back in the freezer after it has reached room temperature if you decide you’d rather have organic lamb!
Freezing tips and tricks
Always freeze leftovers within three to four days of cooking to ensure they are safe to eat. However, if they have been left outside of the fridge for more than two hours it is not safe to refreeze and eat them.
Another pro tip is to make sure meat dishes are reheated until they are piping hot.
How long can meat last in the freezer?
The amount of time meat can be kept in the freezer depends on the cut. Here is a guide for the most common types of beef and lamb.
– Uncooked roasts can be kept in the freezer for around nine months.
– Ground meat or mince can stand being frozen for around two to three months.
– Uncooked steaks or chops can be kept for around four to six months.
– Cooked meat, soups, stews and gravy can be kept for around two to three months.
