Can you freeze uncooked corned beef?

[martyleach]

I want to freeze about a zillion corned beef to turn into pastrami since this is the only time of the year they go on sale. Should I desalinate them and freeze them or just freeze them in the bag with all the ucky juices and seasoning?

I promise pron!!

 

[landarc]

I don't like the idea of trying to freeze heavily salted water and getting a good freeze in a normal household freezer. I think I would remove, vacuum pack and wrap in paper. Adding a little fresh water would help as well.

 

[martyleach]

I don't like the idea of trying to freeze heavily salted water and getting a good freeze in a normal household freezer. I think I would remove, vacuum pack and wrap in paper. Adding a little fresh water would help as well.

Do you think I should de-salinate first?

 

[landarc]

I wouldn't bother with that, unless it is just a few. I am just guessing here Marty, I know in the fisheries (much better freezing equipment) they freeze with just a little water film, fresh water. I suspect the salt in the meat won'tbe a big issue though.

 

[B-Lazy BBQ]

The USDA says yes, for up to one month.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Corned_Beef/index.asp

 

[captndan]

Good question Marty. I would repackage like Landarc said and put them in the freezer. Check the next day. If they are frozen solid leave um in. If not you're going to have to take the salt out.

 

[Neil]

I've frozen corned beef many times for many months with no problems.

 

[deguerre]

I've frozen corned beef many times for many months with no problems.

Me too. I've got a small deep freeze just for meat and have not had problems with just tossing in a corned beef in it's original packaging for several months.

 

[Big Kahuna]

^^What they said^^ I do it all the time, never had an issue.

 

[hamiltont]

I've frozen corned beef many times for many months with no problems.

Ditto on that ^^^^^ It freezes hard as a rock, and the solution helps ward off freezer burn IMO. Cheers!!!

 

[Wampus]

I've frozen corned beef many times for many months with no problems.

Me too. I think we still have some in the freezer from New Years sales. Time to go get more!

 

[colonel00]

Thanks for asking this Marty. I was actually planning to stock up on the cheap corned beef and had the same exactly question.

 

[KnucklHed BBQ]

Pastramiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap::clap::clap:

 

[dadsr4]

It is not the ice crystals that preserve, it is the temperature.

 

[Skidder]

I just bought six last week for the same reason (pastrami) and there froze solid. I get that many every year and have never had a problem.

 

[half_full]

Hi All, found the forum as I was searching for an answer to the thread topic. While I was waiting for my registration to complete I did some browsing. Made me hungry!

Anyway, old topic but it's the only place I could find anything related to my query.

I purchased half dozen vacuum sealed corned beef briskets in late March. I made one into pastrami and froze the rest. The packages are now bloated. How do I know if this is still safe? They all went from store to freezer.
Any input is greatly appreciated

 

[thirdeye]

Marty, although they usually have a long "use by" date and I usually store them in my beer fridge,... I have not had any issues with freezing them.

Hi All, found the forum as I was searching for an answer to the thread topic. While I was waiting for my registration to complete I did some browsing. Made me hungry!

Anyway, old topic but it's the only place I could find anything related to my query.

I purchased half dozen vacuum sealed corned beef briskets in late March. I made one into pastrami and froze the rest. The packages are now bloated. How do I know if this is still safe? They all went from store to freezer.
Any input is greatly appreciated

This sounds weird, was there a large amount of liquid in the bags that when frozen made them swell? I can't imagine any bad juju happening to them in the freezer. What brand are they? When in doubt you could always contact the manufacturer and see what they think.

 

[Ron_L]

Swollen cryo is usually a bad sign, but I can't figure out how they would swell in the freezer. Since they are cured they are probably fine. Thaw one and give it a smell :-D If it smells off, then rinse it and try again. It is still smells off, toss it.

 

[MikeR]

Are they bloated and still frozen or did you take them out and defrost them?

 

[thirdeye]

Ron, the interesting thing about corned beef in particular is that the smell of the pickling itself is sometimes strong... it might overwhelm a sour smell if the meat had in fact turned. However, I'm with you in the fact that cured meat is more resistant to turning than fresh meat.

half_full, how close to the use-by date were they when you bought them?