Brisket cryo bag issues

[pjtexas1]

For the last few years I have been buying briskets when on sale and freezing. The last 4 or 5 have all had small tears in the cryo bags. Can't notice it when frozen but as they thaw in the fridge the bags leak blood. I promised my daughter's friends that missed the brisket at the Texas Bash that I would cook them one this weekend and again its leaking. I do move them around a few times but I try to be careful with them. Is this common? Its a new issue for me. The meat looks normal.

 

[ChrisH]

I've had it happen 3 or 4 times in the last couple of months. Tom Thumb and Costco.

 

[ebijack]

I typically wrap in butcher paper to avoid that problem. It does not completely stop small pin holes etc as stuff being moved around can/does cause damage with the super sharp edges. And it does stop most of that for me.

 

[IamMadMan]

It can be common, depending upon how you handle them in the freezer. Any type of bump or abrasion can compromise the integrity of the package. You have to remember that the plastic gets brittle and can easily be damaged at freezing temperatures.

While the seal in the bag is broken, there should be nothing to worry about. Freezer-burn is very noticeable and should be contained only to the area of leakage. It it is present, simply cut that small piece off, and the rest is good. I don't really see freezer-burn as your issue because the bag was intact when it was frozen, so it has adhered to the meat and any liquids in the bag are already frozen acting as a barrier to air.

I find that when possible, I stand things on end, this makes more room but also diminishes items slipping off the shelf or banging into each other.

 

[PekingPorker]

Happens quite often to me from everything from RD briskets to SRF. Maybe its happening while stored in the freezer? I don't know. Anyway, I put the brisket in a full size aluminium pan while defrosting in the fridge nowadays.

 

[worktogthr]

I agree that it is nothing to worry about..just a nuisance. Maybe because of their large size or unusual shape brisket cryos seem to break a lot. I love it because at my local restaurant depot when that happens, its 50% off even if they just got it the day before! When I get them with broken cryos and I want to freeze I just wrap in some plastic wrap and it seems to do the drink. I also always defrost meat inside some kind of container or pan to avoid leakage from getting on other foods.

 

[pjtexas1]

Thanks guys! I have been using a pan since the first one leaked.

Another question...when thawing do you go fast side up or down?:laugh:

 

[THoey1963]

Another question...when thawing do you go fast side up or down?:laugh:

Always slow side down...

:mrgreen:

 

[pjtexas1]

Always slow side down...

:mrgreen:

I can't be serious for 1 minute around you guys:tsk:

 

[THoey1963]

:heh:

 

[landarc]

Thawing on edge gives the best finish.

I've come to the conclusion it's as Madman says, the plastic gets brittle at freezer temps. When I age briskets in the fridge, they never leak.

 

[Enrico Brandizzi]

It always happens to me. It depends on how I move around the frozen meat in the freezer.
Im not a delicate person so they went in totally sealed and they come out teared and punctured .

 

[16Adams]

Everything I buy seem to leak. I bought some hefty trash bags. When I thaw I put them in the trash bags in their purchased condition packaging to melt slowly and when I get ready to cook that trash bag is next to line the trash can. I've got 24 chick thighs in a Hefty right now