Essential Foods You Should Always Have in the Freezer

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Ground Meats

Raw ground meats are a convenient protein to have on hand for all kinds of meals. For burgers, we also prefer raw ground meat to raw meat patties, as working with unshaped ground meat allows us to control the size and any other ingredients we want to add to them. Of course, you can also use raw ground meats for plenty of other recipes, including meat sauces, meatballs, casseroles, nachos, pasta recipes, soups, etc. If you decide to freeze fresh raw meat, remove it from its original packaging, and place it into a freezer-safe zip-top bag without sealing it. Flatten the meat in the bag with a rolling pin to about 1/2-inch thickness, then seal the bag closed, label it and store in your freezer for up to four months.

When ready to use, its flattened shape will ensure quicker thawing, which can be done in the refrigerator overnight, in the microwave using the correct defrost setting and time (will vary according to your microwave's power wattage), or submerged in cool water for no more than 15 minutes. Still, always keep in mind the signs of raw meat that's gone bad: off odor, slimy texture or mucky brown color.