There are a number of different ways you could wrap your meat for long-term storage in the freezer. Though if you speak to the professionals, there’s really one right way to do it, and it's with high-quality freezer paper.
The point of wrapping meat before freezing is to seal in the meat’s natural moisture while sealing air out. If these two goals aren’t accomplished, it's likely meat will be freezer burned or dried out when you get it back out of the freezer in a few months.
Can’t I use a plastic bag or Ziploc?
You could put meat it in a plastic bag. That seems like it would do well keeping moisture in. But the trouble is getting all the air out. Unless you use a vacuum to suck all the air out of a Ziploc bag and figure out a way to perfectly seal it without letting any more in, it’s not an ideal solution.
What about aluminum foil?
You could also try aluminum foil. It seems like that would do a good job of protecting your meat. But again, unless you’re using a huge amount, there’s likely to still be a passage in the crinkled foil where air can seep in and moisture can seep out. Plus, some people report a slight metallic taste leeching into their meat when it’s frozen in foil and also difficulty with it sticking to frozen meat, which can be aggravating.
Why is freezer paper the best option for storing your meat?
Freezer paper, on the other hand, is specifically designed for the purpose of effectively storing meat. It’s coated on one side with a moisture-resistant barrier, and the thickness and consistency of the paper makes it natural for creating a form-fit bond that will remove the air from the package.
And, as an added benefit, the outer surface of the finished package is paper, so you can easily write on it to note the date and the cut of meat the package contains.
How to wrap your meat like a pro:
Of course, wrapping meat is a developed skill, and even with the best freezer paper available, it can still be a challenge. So, here’s a quick tutorial to make sure your meat tastes fantastic out of the freezer:
- Place the cut of meat in the center of a large enough sheet of freezer paper with the shiny side up.
- Bring the top and bottom edges of the paper together above the meat, fold them together and crease.
- Continue to fold that creased edge until it is flush with the surface of the meat.
- Remove all air bubbles above and below the meat, the wrap the sides down and around the bottom to create a sealed package.
- Use quality freezer tape to seal every seam, finishing the air- and water-tight package.
If you do a lot of meat storage, you’ll find freezer paper to be much more economical of a choice, too. It’s available in large rolls at reasonable prices. If you’re a hunter (or you’ve got one on your Christmas list) you can even use camo printed freezer paper as a special option.
If you’d like to know all the options available for high-quality freezer paper for meat storage, we welcome you to contact us.
