Freezing ground beef is so easy!
How to Freeze Ground Beef is my personal freezer tip, which will help you save a ton of money and time while cooking. This is a great thing to keep in the freezer for hectic weeknights. Dinner just got easier!.
What is the best way to freeze ground beef?
Although it’s a very straightforward and clever idea, you should brown the ground beef before freezing it. Yes, you read that right – brown and then freeze.
It could really change your life!
Okay, so maybe I’m being overly dramatic, but this is a fantastic way to save money and time in the kitchen. When beef or ground turkey is on sale, you can now buy large quantities of both.
After that, brown everything and place it in the freezer. Once it has browned, it practically lasts forever and is incredibly simple to cook!
You won’t need to brown the ground beef if you’re making chili or soup from one of our delectable crock pot recipes. You will just toss it in the crockpot frozen. It is that simple.
How to freeze ground beef:
I take a large skillet or pot, add 2-3 pounds of ground beef, and begin to brown it all. Experience has taught me that putting more than two to three at once takes too long to brown.
I don’t season the meat. Although you can season it for spaghetti or tacos, I like to just eat it plain. As a result, I will always have beef on hand for dishes like chili, tacos, spaghetti, taco soup, and more.
Once it has browned, transfer it to a jelly roll pan or a 9 by 13-inch pan. After that, continue browning the remaining beef and adding it to the pan (or more pans, depending on how much work needs to be done). After completing all of that, I lightly cover the pan with foil and place it in the refrigerator to cool.
If you research how to freeze meals, the most important step is to get the food to reach room temperature before freezing it. So leave the meat in the fridge until completely cooled. That is the MOST important step. After that, divide the meat evenly among the freezer bags your family will use.
You decide how much to freeze in one-pound bags or how much your family will actually use. 25 pounds. It is up to you. Since you cooked them, they will weigh less, so I don’t weigh them. Instead, I do the math. If I want 1 pound bags, I will divide a starting weight of 10 pounds of meat into 10 baggies. Make sure you label and then freeze.
Then I just put them in the freezer. You now have meat available for eating on those incredibly busy nights.
How long does it take me?
Up to 10 pounds of meat can be browned in just 15 to 20 minutes. Just wait for it to cool in the freezer while the remaining steps are completed.
Why I brown ground beef before I freeze it:
Yes, I can simply throw it in the pan with the beans, tomato sauce, and onions if I want to make chili. No thawing and browning needed. The meat will quickly thaw in the pan with the addition of a little water.
All I have to do to make tacos is heat it up and season it.
I won’t need to brown the meat for a crock pot meal any longer. It only needs to be frozen and put in the crock pot. The crock pot alone will save a ton of time in the morning since it is designed to be convenient.
I removed a whole step from Hamburger Helper, making it significantly simpler. The possibilities are endless!.
I love to use these hands free bag holders. It is like having another set of hands in the kitchen. So handy for freezer cooking. that are seriously a life saver. They keep your bags open so you can just dump your ingredients inside.
Why does this save you money?
- You first save money because you can now purchase it in bulk at incredibly low prices and brown it all at once.
- Because you don’t have to worry about defrosting meat, you can get dinner ready and on the table faster. You can now quickly prepare dinner even if you’re exhausted. As a result, you are less likely to use the drive-through on a hectic evening, such as one during a baseball game or soccer practice.
Time for you to GET FREEZING!
Print how to freeze ground beef below:
How to Freeze Ground Beef
- Brown the ground beef in a large sauce pan. Drain off the excess grease.
- Allow the beef to cool completely at room temperature.
- Once browned, put the ground beef in a freezer bag with a label.
- Purge the bag of as much air as you can before sealing it.
- Store in the freezer for 3-6 months.
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How to Freeze Cooked Ground Beef
FAQ
Does frozen cooked ground beef go bad?
According to the USDA, raw beef should be used within three to four months of freezing. Cooked ground beef can be stored in the freezer for two to three months due to moisture loss during the cooking process.
How long does cooked beef last in the freezer?
Information. Frozen beef will be safe indefinitely. Use raw steaks, roasts, or chops within four to twelve months, raw ground beef within four months, and cooked beef within two to three months for best quality.
Can I use 2 year old frozen ground beef?
Although ground beef can be kept frozen indefinitely, it is best used within four months. As soon as possible after purchase, put ground beef in the refrigerator or freezer.
Can cooked ground beef be frozen more than once?
We do not advise refreezing cooked meat because doing so will cause you to lose a significant amount of the texture and flavor. Additionally, meats that have been left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours or at a temperature of 90 degrees or higher for more than an hour shouldn’t be frozen (or refrozen).