Fresh or Frozen meat?

richardw

I generally buy fresh from Tesco, but interested in your tips about frozen and also buying fresh to freeze.

Some places have frozen lean mince, is this cheaper than buying fresh and just as good?

I've also seen chicken breasts ready to freeze in M & S which look good quality but aren't cheap.

With frozen do you save much by just using the amount you need as and when from the freezer?

sarah_elton

I sometimes buy the bags of free flowing frozen mince and can't taste the difference in bolognese. The free flowing means all the bits aren't stuck together, and you can pour it straight from bag into a frying pan and defrost/cook all at once over a medium heat. Easier than fresh mince and the breaking it up!

Re freezing fresh meat, I do it all the time with chicken breasts (you don't need "ready to freeze" ones - any that say suitable for freezing on the packaging are fine - I do it with Morrisons value chicken breasts!). We eat a lot of curries and things like that with chicken chunks in sauce. I stock up on packs of breasts when they're on offer and freeze them. Again, can't tell the difference, though we never eat a plain, grilled breast. Maybe then you would. But I've defrosted whole breasts, marinated them and grilled them and they've been fine. For chicken, I usually defrost in the fridge for 24 hours (get it out the night before we want it). In a pinch I've defrosted quickly in the microwave, but then it starts to cook round the edges and goes a bit chewy.

I also freeze fish that's bought fresh if we're not going to use it in time. Tastes the same once defrosted and cooked.

Fresh meat and fish will say on it if it's suitable for freezing. If not, then don't do it. I shop at Morrisons and none of the red meats seem to be freezable.

cheap_charlie

I only use the frozen steak mince and I haven't noticed any difference between it and fresh when making spaghetti bologneise, which is what I mainly use mince for.

I am sure others might disagree, but it suits me as I only need to use what I need and can go back to the bag later on so I personally find it more economical.

richardw

Great replies, thanks, any thoughts about chicken portions such as drumsticks and thighs?

Oakey22

i freeze any meat, cant see the harm in it unless it has already been frozen on the way to the shop. But fresh meat means it is fresh not previously frozen.

newmumincov

All meat can be frozen, and defrosted and refrozen providing you've stored it correctly whilst it's defrosted. What will happen is that with successive freezings it will get tougher, that's all. If you're going to stew the meat anyway then that really doesn't matter much.

Bongedone

You can rapidly defrost chicken breast. Just put it in a cold frying pan (not on the heat) and leave it. The metal of the pan disipates the coldness from the chicken and it defrosts really quick. Give it a turn when one side thaws.

This works with pork chops as well.

Lamb chops can be cooked from frozen.

emweaver

I always buy frozen meat as its cheaper, frozen mince in asda I pau £1.50 for 500g, you cant get 250g fresh for that price, also chikcen portions diced are around £2 (maybe more now) for 500g.

saxoqueen

I freeze lots of meat, when I find it either on offer or reduced to clear.
Good idea about the frying pan and chicken. Will give it a go, when I finish on here.
Chicken stir fry tonight :T

MrsJ2008

Only just started buying meat from a proper butcher and it tastes completely different and better quality too.

Even bog basic mince (which costs the same at a supermarket) tasted miles better from the butcher.

kitschkitty

I buy frozen chicken and mince as it is cheaper and easier, but always get mine from Iceland (of all places) as it is better quality. Iceland do cubed cooked chicken, and it's actually works out cheaper than some of the other frozen chicken (I used to buy the £5 bags of chicken breasts).

Be sure to check if buying frozen chicken (etc) that it is 100% chicken and no added water or salt, as I once tried Farm Foods frozen chicken breasts, and they were really tough, when I checked the packet they had added water and salt.

I found Farm foods frozen pork steaks, beef selection pack (don't think they do it anymore) and chicken drum sticks were all perfectly fine.