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Do you freeze raw meat?

I have always frozen raw meat but I do think it toughens it and you get a lot of juices leaking out when you defrost it.
I read in a cook book that it's much better to cook the meat into a dish and then freeze it. Is that what most people do?
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Comments

  • I just freeze it raw in sealed bags, defrost slowly, and don't have any problems.
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 35,051 Forumite
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    Nope. Buy it on yellow sticker, freeze into individual portions, then cook as needed. I dislike the texture of meat that's been cooked then frozen.
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  • andygb
    andygb Posts: 14,638 Forumite
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    We have a good assortment of raw meat (sealed in bags) in our freezer, in batches enough for one meal for two.
    If I am going to use them, then I move from the freezer to the fridge the night before, and if necessary defrost fully outside immediately before cooking.
    We bought some lamb (bone in half leg) on the yellow sticker yesterday from our Co-op (£4 for just under a kilo), and it has been boned and divided into three bags (three meals for two!) - two for stew/hotpot/curry, and the best bits for kebab use.
    We also have chicken thighs and fresh fish (which I froze just hours after catching).
  • This is what I do for virtually all the meat and fish we eat. Buy fresh (preferably YS), portion up and double wrap each in cling film and label!

    When needed defrost in the fridge or on the counter overnight in winter then move to fridge in the morning.
  • shegirl
    shegirl Posts: 10,107 Forumite
    I freeze raw and put in the fridge to defrost the night before use too.


    I bulk buy meat from Clare Barry so to cook it all up before freezing would be an absolute nightmare!


    I think with decent quality meat there isn't much of an issue with leakages and change in texture, when I have bought lower quality ie pumped with water meat while waiting for a delivery (or in my delivery breaks) I've found it can leak quite a bit and not taste as good though
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  • I always freeze meat. I buy it in bulk from a good butcher, bring it home and bag it up in useable portions. I've never had a problem with texture after cooking. I hate re-heated cooked meat whether it has been frozen or not.

    Could it be that the meat you have had problems with has been frozen for a long time and suffered that way?
  • Tigsteroonie
    Tigsteroonie Posts: 24,954 Forumite
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    I used to buy in bulk from supermarket, portion it up, and freeze it. Now I buy smaller, better quality portions from our local butcher and freeze those on day of purchase. So, the answer is Yes.
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  • SailorSam
    SailorSam Posts: 22,754 Forumite
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    I use to freeze it straight after getting home from the shops but find it more convenient now to cook and then portion up in the freezer.
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  • pigpen
    pigpen Posts: 41,152 Forumite
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    cooking it first always seems to result in hard chewy meat I do not freeze it if I can help it.

    ALWAYS frozen raw.
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  • I do both - buy it as a BOGOF deal or YS and freeze it, but also if I've cooked too much then I'll freeze the leftover in person-sized portions too.

    I don't think either is as good as buying it and using it fresh - but it's better than wasting it.
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