Freezing competition meat

[paydabill]

I am going to ask - sorry.

Who freezes what competition meats. I am usually at the mindset that you do not freeze competition meat. With prices being high buying in bulk is cheaper.

What about you?

[big brother smoke]

Ideally, I wet age briskies for a month or so and into the deep freezer and out to the fridge 6 days before a comp.

[JD McGee]

I prefer to buy fresh...but if I have to buy a case lot to save some big bucks I have no problems freezing everything...

[Ken V]

Wet age briskets and freeze, freeze ribs do not freeze butts or chicken.

[jbrink01]

I buy chicken by the case and freeze it. I buy briskets, butts and ribs every week for catering and sort out what I want. The briskets are on a 40 day rotation........the ribs and butts go fresh, not frozen.

[warren.miller]

Ken V,
I am curious why you don't freeze chicken or butts? Does freezing ribs help?

Thanks,
Warren

[INmitch]

1 ribs come frozen. Buy a case for every comp. The leftover get used for Jason catering or for bussiness cooks.
2 Buy fresh CK n prep n freeze
3 fresh butts
4 Try to get briskets 10-20 days befor comp. Previously frozen!!

[Jeff_in_KC]

I prefer a brisket that's been frozen after wet aging for about 50 to 55 days. Ribs, yeah, freezing is ok. Pork, I prefer frsh but I'm sure at some point, some stuff we buy has been previously frozen. Chicken, no way no how... EVER frozen!

[AZScott]

I'll freeze everything but pork butts and the only reason for that is that it's easy to find a pork butt with a good mm. Ribs I buy as I practice and trim and vacuum seal the ones that stand out. Brisket is wet aged then frozen in cryo. Chicken is trimmed, vacuumed and frozen. I freeze out of convenience.

[Ken V]

Warren, I normally buy briskets and ribs by the case from IBP, the chicken and butts I buy the week of the contest.

Ken

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[paydabill]

great responses - wet aged?

I assume keep in the cryo vac for some time, is there a refriderated temp you are looking for?

[CBQ]

Originally Posted by paydabill

great responses - wet aged?

I assume keep in the cryo vac for some time, is there a refriderated temp you are looking for?

In cryo vac, and undisturbed. Don't wet age in your kitchen fridge.

35 to 36 is a good target temp. Wet aged brisket will have a rich, deep aroma to it. It will NOT smell rancid. If it seems rancid, it is. Don't use it.

As a previous poster noted, around 50 days is good. This is 50 days from the kill date, not 50 days from when you bought it.

[Divemaster]

I freeze it all and haven't had a problem.

The fact that I can get the trimming done on my time frame is a HUGE plus. In fact, we are looking at adding a second freezer to hold all of the meats.

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[The Virginian]

I usually prep ribs ahead and freeze. I keep an eye out for meaty ribs every time I go to the store, and when I find them I prep, vacuum pack, and freeze for the next contest.

I occasionally prep and freeze chicken, like the convenience and don't think it hurts anything. I don't freeze pork butts, Adam Perry Lang says its not good for the pork texture.

Brett

[Fatback Joe]

I will freeze it all, but especially briskets and ribs. I have a hard time finding any I like, so when I do I grab them..........if it has to go in the freezer I am fine with it.