{"id":1516706,"date":"2020-06-25T10:28:26","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T15:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1516706"},"modified":"2024-10-01T03:57:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T08:57:03","slug":"how-long-can-you-freeze-ground-beef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/how-long-can-you-freeze-ground-beef\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Can You Freeze Ground Beef?"},"content":{"rendered":"It's helpful to have an extra pound of ground beef on hand for quick dinners, like hamburgers, tacos or soup.\u00a0But ground beef lasts in the fridge<\/a> for just one or two days. Then it needs to be cooked or tucked away in the freezer for later.\r\n

How long can you freeze ground beef?<\/h2>\r\nWhile ground beef can stay frozen indefinitely, you'll be sacrificing quality as time passes. Frozen ground beef is best used within four months.\r\n\r\nWe recommend marking the date on each portion of ground beef. This will help you keep an eye on storage times and use meat that's been frozen longest first.\r\n

The Best Way to Freeze Ground Beef<\/h2>\r\nThere are two important things to remember about ground beef safety: storing it at the correct temperature and timeliness. When you stock up on ground beef, go straight home from the grocery store. You'll want to keep the meat at 40\u00b0F or below for safety. This will slow the growth of bacteria, like E. coli<\/a>, and help maintain the freshness of your meat.\r\n\r\nThe \"Danger Zone\" refers to temperatures between 40\u00b0 and 140\u00b0. Harmful bacteria multiply quickly within the Danger Zone, so it's important to never leave ground beef at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. This is an essential tip to know when freezing food<\/a>.\r\n\r\nIf you plan on using the meat ASAP, keep it in the store-bought packaging. If you plan on storing it longer, portion out the ground beef as needed and wrap each piece in heavy-duty plastic wrap, freezer paper, aluminum foil or one of our favorite products to freeze food in<\/a>\u2014plastic freezer bags.\r\n

How to Defrost Ground Beef<\/h2>\r\n\"raw\r\n\r\nYou're preparing to make your famous spaghetti and meatballs<\/a> tonight for dinner. Of course, you'll need a couple pounds of your frozen ground beef!\r\n\r\nThe safest way to defrost ground beef<\/a> is in the refrigerator. Keeping the meat cold while allowing it to defrost keeps harmful bacteria from growing and spreading before cooking begins. It's important to note that this method could take up to a day or more, so plan ahead if possible.\r\n\r\nIf you need to defrost the meat quicker, you can use the microwave or a bowl of cold water. When using the microwave, make sure to cook the meat immediately after it's ready, because some parts may have starting cooking during the defrosting process. If using cold water, place the meat in an airtight bag and submerge in the bowl of cold water. Then, change the water every 30 minutes until it's thawed and cook immediately afterward.\r\n\r\nYou may notice that some parts of the ground beef have turned gray<\/a> after freezing\u2014but that meat is safe to eat.\r\n

Tips for Freezing Ground Beef<\/h2>\r\nBefore you place all your ground beef in the freezer in anticipation of the best ground beef recipes<\/a>, you'll want to keep some tips in mind.\r\n

Prevent freezer burn<\/h3>\r\n\"Frozen\r\n\r\nIf your frozen ground beef\u2014or any meat\u2014comes into contact with warm air for too long, freezer burn can occur. You know, that pesky layer of ice that dries out your frozen food and makes you question if it's really safe to eat<\/a>. (It is.) To prevent freezer burn<\/a>, store your ground beef properly. Freezer bags will do the trick.\r\n

Label frozen ground beef with the date<\/h3>\r\nPrior to freezing ground beef, label your freezer bag so you know when to use it before it goes bad. Frozen ground beef can last up to four months, so marking a date will help. Plus, it's an easy trick to keep your freezer organized<\/a>!\r\n

Store the ground beef flat<\/h3>\r\nGround beef will thaw more quickly when stored flat, due to the larger surface area.\r\n\r\n\t\t\t
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Our Best Ground Beef Recipes<\/div>\t\t\t\t
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