Adding deli meat to a dish does more than just elevate the taste. Most cold cuts are rich in protein as well as essential nutrients like zinc, iron, and B vitamins. Just remember that deli meat also tends to be high in sodium since salt is often used as a preservative.
If you follow a low sodium diet, you should be careful about how much prepackaged meat you add to your meals. They can go bad just a few days after purchase, which is why many people ask the question: can you freeze deli meat? With the right preparation, you can freeze deli meat for months at a time. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Last Updated on July 7, by Diane Westphal. Can You Freeze Lunch Meat? Deli Meat. Diane lives with her husband and 2 children on a small ranch in Southern California, where she's able to grow a good portion of the food that she prepares for her family in a variety of kitchen creations. Diane has been formally trained and has spent stints in multiple noted restaurants in her region and currently consults with commercial catering businesses. She enjoys writing about food as much as she engages in making her creations.
Can You Freeze Cream Cheese? Can Cottage Cheese Be Frozen? Can You Freeze Cooked Meatloaf? Can Sour Cream Be Frozen? Again, label, date and freeze for up to two months. If you purchase a large piece of meat from the deli counter, it can be wrapped in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by an airtight freezer bag, and frozen for up to two months. If you cook a turkey , chicken or ham for homemade sandwich supplies, these can be frozen as well.
Be sure to let the meat cool completely before wrapping and freezing. It's also best to remove the meat from the bone and cut or slice it into smaller pieces for freezing—slices and smaller pieces will defrost more easily, too.
Fully cooked ham can be frozen for up to two months, while poultry will keep for up to three months. Layering and stacking slices of deli meat may seem fussy, but it means you can pull out and thaw exactly what you need rather than defrosting all your deli meat at once—unless you want to, of course!
The best way to thaw frozen deli meat is overnight in the refrigerator, or until fully defrosted—larger pieces can take longer. Check the recommended meat slicers on the market today! Extra Tip: If you need to buy deli meat for some dish you are making that needs it to be diced, you can find phenomenal deals on deli ends. The ends of roast beef, ham, or turkey can be found at a minimal price, and since you are not planning to serve the meat, you can buy the ends and enjoy a few extra dollars in your pocket!
Most importantly, when you freeze the lunch meat, the low temperature inside the freezer stops the growth of bacteria, thus keeping your loved ones safe.
The lunch meat also gets to keep its original texture and flavor that could otherwise alter if you keep it in the fridge for too long.
First of all, I must tell you that air-tight packaging is a must when it comes to the successful freezing of any food, and lunch meat is no exception.
Therefore, if you freeze your food as often as I do, it would be best to invest in a vacuum sealer. It is a life-saver and money saver too for large families and those of you who like to stock up on groceries for whatever reason. Vacuum packaging your food prior to freezing it will prevent freezer burns, but also help preserve the original taste and texture better. When it comes to lunch meat, you often buy it in a sealed package and, if you have not opened it, it can be frozen as such.
However if you already opened the package and used the meat, or kept it open in your refrigerator for some time, the freezing process has to be somewhat more complicated.
Extra Tip: If you are freezing a package of sliced meat you have already opened, it is best to place a sheet of parchment paper in-between lunch meat slices to keep them separated and be able to defrost and use as many slices as you need at the time!
Be sure to consume your lunch meat within 2 to 3 days of defrosting. Product Reviews. Home Ideas. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. The Rise of the Cleanfluencer.
Here's everything else you need to know about safely freezing deli meat: How to Freeze Deli Meat How to freeze pre-packaged deli meat — Plan on stocking up on deli meat?
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