Whole Packer Question

Gnomatic · 01-18-2013, 06:39 PM

On Wednesday, I swung by Restaurant Depot and picked myself up a brisket, a 15lb Superior Angus beaut! I fully intended to cook it this weekend, but I've been unexpectantly swamped with things, and came down with a pretty bad cold as well. I can't taste much in my current state, so I'd like to smoke it next weekend when I'll have more time and hopefully I'm feeling better.

My question is, is it safe to store a big hunk of beef in the fridge that long, or should I freeze it? The brisket is still in its cryovac packing and sealed. I know I've read it should be fine, but I guess I'm looking for a bit of reassurance. I'm not seeing a sell-by date on the package or sticker.

PatAttack · 01-18-2013, 06:41 PM

Keep it in there and age it for a bit. Should be fine.

Garrett · 01-18-2013, 06:47 PM

It will be fine. I'm sure they sell enough to keep them fresh.

Swamp Donkeyz BBQ · 01-18-2013, 06:57 PM

You can keep it in the fridge as long as the door doesn't get opened a whole lot. Even if it does you could put it all the way to the back, and it should be fine at only a week of aging.

martyleach · 01-18-2013, 07:25 PM

I am really surprised it doesn't have a sell by date on it. I thought that was a legal requirement for Cryo'd stuff... Oh well. They are usually good for months when cryo'd. Get better!

IamMadMan · 01-18-2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

I am really surprised it doesn't have a sell by date on it. I thought that was a legal requirement for Cryo'd stuff... Oh well. They are usually good for months when cryo'd. Get better!

^ +1 I agree, they usually have the date on the package or on the label if it is cryo'd because of the longer shelf life.

Pappy Q · 01-18-2013, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

I am really surprised it doesn't have a sell by date on it. I thought that was a legal requirement for Cryo'd stuff... Oh well. They are usually good for months when cryo'd. Get better!

I've never had a date on any RD meat I've purchased and after getting spoiled ribs twice (they were obviously expired when opened), I'm done there.

Gnomatic · 01-18-2013, 10:08 PM

So I guess I'll chance it. It'll be 10-11 days since I purchased it by the time I get around to the cook. Fingers crossed!

Midnight Smoke · 01-18-2013, 10:11 PM

Just do the smell test, when you open the package and everything still smells fresh your good to go.

jrbBBQ · 01-18-2013, 10:17 PM

you should be able to hold it for at least a month, just trim the gray stuff off. As far as buying pork, I only buy ribs or butts by the case with the packing date on them from RD, I don't like anything, anywhere that sets in the display and gets handled by everyone, also I've never bought anything bad at RD.

chriscw81 · 01-18-2013, 10:20 PM

unless that brisket was bad when you purchased it you have nothing to worry about. the last brisket i got from RD actually sat in my garage fridge for about 10 day with no problem.

wct · 01-19-2013, 12:40 AM

I have a Choice grade Brisky in the fridge from Cash and Carry for 25 days now. Yours will be fine. I usually try and go for 20-30 days and never had a bad one yet. Nice and tender. Hope you get better soon.

jemezspring · 01-19-2013, 04:26 AM

As for the smell test, I think I have read on here that sometimes when you open the cryovac pack the meat will smell of sulfur. But if you rinse it it should go away. Is that correct? I have never bought cryo-ed meat but think I read that.

lemur · 01-19-2013, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemezspring

As for the smell test, I think I have read on here that sometimes when you open the cryovac pack the meat will smell of sulfur. But if you rinse it it should go away. Is that correct? I have never bought cryo-ed meat but think I read that.

I don't do smell test till meat has aired out a bit after opening. If I get off smell then, which is not often, I will rinse and resmell and reair a bit...if still off smell trash.

Interesting talk with butcher...The chain grocer had FRESH New Zealand boneless leg of lamb advertised. Being in atlantic Canada I questioned him about being fresh or previous frozen. He assured me of it being fresh cryro'd, showed me bb date couple weeks away and added he found bb date to be very accurate as the lamb would go off within a day or 2 of bb date.

01-18-2013, 06:39 PM	#1
Gnomatic Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 10-14-11 Location: Columbus Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Whole Packer Question On Wednesday, I swung by Restaurant Depot and picked myself up a brisket, a 15lb Superior Angus beaut! I fully intended to cook it this weekend, but I've been unexpectantly swamped with things, and came down with a pretty bad cold as well. I can't taste much in my current state, so I'd like to smoke it next weekend when I'll have more time and hopefully I'm feeling better. My question is, is it safe to store a big hunk of beef in the fridge that long, or should I freeze it? The brisket is still in its cryovac packing and sealed. I know I've read it should be fine, but I guess I'm looking for a bit of reassurance. I'm not seeing a sell-by date on the package or sticker.

01-18-2013, 06:41 PM	#2
PatAttack is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-19-11 Location: Mt. Pleasant S.C. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Keep it in there and age it for a bit. Should be fine. __________________ 18.5" WSM Weber SJS Maverick ET-732 Stealthy Fast Black Thermapen "You have never lived until you have almost died". "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know".-Unknown Vietnam Soldier

01-18-2013, 06:47 PM	#3
Garrett Take a breath! Join Date: 10-03-12 Location: Gastonia North Carolina Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It will be fine. I'm sure they sell enough to keep them fresh. __________________ My arsenal, Stumps Clone, Two Modified offsets, open pit with grate and rotisserie,UDS, and a free to me Weber One Touch Silver 18.5" kettle

01-18-2013, 07:25 PM	#5
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I am really surprised it doesn't have a sell by date on it. I thought that was a legal requirement for Cryo'd stuff... Oh well. They are usually good for months when cryo'd. Get better! __________________ Large Big Green Egg, Cold smokehouse, UDS with hinged lid, Santa Maria pit 26.75" Weber OTG, Weber Performer, WGA MAK One Star General Pellet Pooper Hasty Bake Gourmet Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) www.amlwoodart.com

01-18-2013, 10:11 PM	#9
Midnight Smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-24-08 Location: Southern Arizona Desert Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Just do the smell test, when you open the package and everything still smells fresh your good to go. __________________ ************************ * Terry ~ aka Pork Smoker * XL-BGE Hatched 06/20/2008 09:42 pm ** * Couple Weber Kettles, CharGriller, UDS * * Ultra Fast Red Thermapen * Projects Kamado Restoration Bandera Restoration

01-18-2013, 06:57 PM	#4
Swamp Donkeyz BBQ Take a breath! Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Huntsville, Tx Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You can keep it in the fridge as long as the door doesn't get opened a whole lot. Even if it does you could put it all the way to the back, and it should be fine at only a week of aging.

01-18-2013, 10:08 PM	#8
Gnomatic Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 10-14-11 Location: Columbus Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	So I guess I'll chance it. It'll be 10-11 days since I purchased it by the time I get around to the cook. Fingers crossed!

01-18-2013, 10:17 PM	#10
jrbBBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-01-11 Location: Mcleansboro, IL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	you should be able to hold it for at least a month, just trim the gray stuff off. As far as buying pork, I only buy ribs or butts by the case with the packing date on them from RD, I don't like anything, anywhere that sets in the display and gets handled by everyone, also I've never bought anything bad at RD. __________________ "Rural Route BBQ competition team"

01-18-2013, 10:20 PM	#11
chriscw81 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-01-12 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	unless that brisket was bad when you purchased it you have nothing to worry about. the last brisket i got from RD actually sat in my garage fridge for about 10 day with no problem. __________________ *A Texan transplant* UDS \| Blue Weber Performer Platinum \| Chargriller Akorn \| 22.5 Weber OTG \| WSJ Gold \| Mini WSM \| Maverick ET-73 \| Blue Thermapen \| Maverick PT-100 \| Master Forge gasser(charcoal chimney starter)

01-19-2013, 12:40 AM	#12
wct Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-09-12 Location: Colville, Washington Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have a Choice grade Brisky in the fridge from Cash and Carry for 25 days now. Yours will be fine. I usually try and go for 20-30 days and never had a bad one yet. Nice and tender. Hope you get better soon. __________________ John Rec-Tec#1165, Traeger 075 Texan (1990's model), Weber Genesis E-330, Bradley digital 6 Shelf Smoker

01-19-2013, 04:26 AM	#13
jemezspring Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-09-09 Location: Chicago Proper Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	As for the smell test, I think I have read on here that sometimes when you open the cryovac pack the meat will smell of sulfur. But if you rinse it it should go away. Is that correct? I have never bought cryo-ed meat but think I read that.