Will it hurt freezing a Brisket?

DavidEHickey · 07-10-2011, 10:28 AM

I bought a 8.5 pound vaccum sealed brisket yesterday to smoke today but my plans changed. Will it hurt freezing it? Just wondering if it will make the meat tough. It still vaccum sealed. Any help would be appreciated
David

ytsejam · 07-10-2011, 10:33 AM

it will be ok to freeze it

Stevesonfire! · 07-10-2011, 11:58 AM

I froze a brisket once.... didn't feel any pain at all....

As far as making it tough.... it comes that way! Smoking it makes it tender and tasty!

Bourbon Barrel BBQ · 07-10-2011, 12:00 PM

I've taken 1st place with a previously frozen briskets at comps. You will be fine.

The_Kapn · 07-10-2011, 12:13 PM

Another thread going on right now about the same thing.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=110938

Lots of opinions there.

TIM

colonel00 · 07-10-2011, 01:07 PM

I think in this situation it is a no brainer. Even if it does diminish the quality of the meat a little, that is a whole lot better than having to toss the whole thing out because you didn't find time to cook it. I have been in the exact same situation before where I had a huge packer sitting in the fridge waiting for the weekend. All of the sudden plans change and I knew it wouldn't get to it. So, into the freezer it went. I ended up cooking it a couple months later and it was fine. Just remember it will take forever for it to thaw.

bigabyte · 07-10-2011, 05:33 PM

Freeze away and sleep tight knowing it will be fine.

Cook · 07-10-2011, 09:26 PM

Here's my "opinion".

Freezing will not make your meat tough. If anything, it will tenderize it a little. All those tiny ice crystals that form during a slow freeze should tear away at some of the muscle...therefore tenderizing it.

Just my convoluted thoughts.

I'm sure there's some smart person out there who will type a boring 6 paragraph response just to say my opinion is wrong.

bignburlyman · 07-11-2011, 08:36 AM

If it is in the cryovac from the packing plant it should'nt need to be frozen at all if you are just waiting a week to cook. I have aged brisket in the cryovac for up to 45 days with no problem. One point---I do buy a case at a time and know what the packing date is, so I know how much age is already on the brisket.

LMAJ · 07-11-2011, 09:01 AM

Wasw it previously frozen?? If so, then I would cook it now. If not - freeze away!

07-10-2011, 10:28 AM	#1
DavidEHickey Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-22-08 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Will it hurt freezing a Brisket? I bought a 8.5 pound vaccum sealed brisket yesterday to smoke today but my plans changed. Will it hurt freezing it? Just wondering if it will make the meat tough. It still vaccum sealed. Any help would be appreciated David

07-10-2011, 11:58 AM	#3
Stevesonfire! On the road to being a farker Join Date: 06-14-10 Location: Pekin IN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I froze a brisket once.... didn't feel any pain at all.... As far as making it tough.... it comes that way! Smoking it makes it tender and tasty! __________________ Hi my names Steve, I have a problem........

07-10-2011, 12:13 PM	#5
The_Kapn Moderator Emeritus Join Date: 04-08-04 Location: Marianna, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Another thread going on right now about the same thing. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=110938 Lots of opinions there. TIM __________________ "Flirtin' with Disaster" BBQ Team (RETIRED) FBA and KCBS Cook and Judge. Former owner of a WSM, a Smokey Joe, a Charbroil Commercial gasser (junk), and the legendary "StudeDera". Now cooking with a FEC100, a Traeger Lil' Tex, and a Fast Eddy PG500 Proud Pellet guy cooking on real wood.

07-10-2011, 01:07 PM	#6
colonel00 Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-03-10 Location: Shawnee, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think in this situation it is a no brainer. Even if it does diminish the quality of the meat a little, that is a whole lot better than having to toss the whole thing out because you didn't find time to cook it. I have been in the exact same situation before where I had a huge packer sitting in the fridge waiting for the weekend. All of the sudden plans change and I knew it wouldn't get to it. So, into the freezer it went. I ended up cooking it a couple months later and it was fine. Just remember it will take forever for it to thaw. __________________ Brad Proud owner of the PentaZero WWWWFBBQADD 0 out of 1 members found this post helpful

07-10-2011, 05:33 PM	#7
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS Downloads: 1 Uploads: 1	Freeze away and sleep tight knowing it will be fine. __________________ Chris Baker For great food and and an even better time join the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns *First ever recipient of the Silverfinger Award!* Yes, I own a whole bunch of BBQ crap also. *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Get your MOINK Certification today!* The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club member

07-10-2011, 10:33 AM	#2
ytsejam Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-10-08 Location: dfw Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	it will be ok to freeze it

07-10-2011, 12:00 PM	#4
Bourbon Barrel BBQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-27-10 Location: Louisville, KY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've taken 1st place with a previously frozen briskets at comps. You will be fine.

07-10-2011, 09:26 PM	#8
Cook is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-23-10 Location: Mount Pleasnt, SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here's my "opinion". Freezing will not make your meat tough. If anything, it will tenderize it a little. All those tiny ice crystals that form during a slow freeze should tear away at some of the muscle...therefore tenderizing it. Just my convoluted thoughts. I'm sure there's some smart person out there who will type a boring 6 paragraph response just to say my opinion is wrong.

07-11-2011, 08:36 AM	#9
bignburlyman Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-10-03 Location: Great Bend, Kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If it is in the cryovac from the packing plant it should'nt need to be frozen at all if you are just waiting a week to cook. I have aged brisket in the cryovac for up to 45 days with no problem. One point---I do buy a case at a time and know what the packing date is, so I know how much age is already on the brisket. __________________ David CBJ & CTC #5112 Kansas Winter Q BBQ Committee Traeger Texas 075 ECB (retired)

07-11-2011, 09:01 AM	#10
LMAJ Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-01-07 Location: Southeastern Pa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wasw it previously frozen?? If so, then I would cook it now. If not - freeze away! __________________ L-M Official Pennsylvania MOINK Ball maker 1 Large BGE - 7/5/08 1 Large BGE and table - 8/29/12 1 18.5 new to me WSM Super Fast BLUE and RED Thermapen 1 - The Great Outdoors Smoker Sea Bug cooker 1 - Fantastic hubby - the original Big Al _______________________________________ Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault

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