Current:Home > ScamsCan you freeze deli meat? Here’s how to safely extend the shelf life of this lunch staple.-LoTradeCoin
Can you freeze deli meat? Here’s how to safely extend the shelf life of this lunch staple.
View Date:2024-12-24 13:53:36
Deli meat is incredibly versatile, and if you’re stocking up on this lunchtime favorite, you may be wondering if freezing it is the key to extending its shelf life.
When it comes to freezing deli meat, practicing safe storage habits is absolutely essential. If the meat isn’t frozen at the correct temperature, once fully defrosted, you may be taking a risk by eating it.
We asked the experts to break down what you need to know about keeping frozen deli meat fresh, flavorful, and most importantly, safe.
Can you freeze deli meat?
Yes, you can freeze deli meat, says Kimberly Kramer, a clinical dietitian at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware Valley.
If your intent when purchasing deli meat is to freeze it, no matter if the meat was sliced at the counter or purchased in a vacuum-sealed pack, Kramer recommends storing it in your freezer as soon as you return home from the grocery store.
However, if you are freezing the meat within a safe timeline (the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends you consume all open packages of deli meat within three to five days), you can go ahead and freeze it, Kramer says.
If the deli meat has been open beyond the five day mark, or if it is past the expiration date, do not freeze it. Rather, you should discard the meat, because you can no longer guarantee its safety, she says.
Is it safe to refreeze deli meat?
You should never refreeze deli meat in an attempt to prolong its freshness. “Once a deli meat has been unfrozen, it should not be frozen again,” says Dr. Mandeep Rai, a board-certified infectious disease physician at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.
Why? Deli meat is vulnerable to bacteria growth once defrosted. Refrigeration will slow the growth of bacteria on foods, but neither refrigeration nor freezing will kill bacteria that’s already there, Rai explains.
Do some frozen deli meats fare better than others?
Though it’s possible to freeze all types of deli meat, once defrosted, it’s possible that the quality and consistency of some meats may fare better than others, says Judy Simon, a clinical dietitian nutritionist at the University of Washington Medical Center. Cured meats, for example, tend to maintain their texture once defrosted because of their high fat content, she says.
Meats that have a high water content are likely going to be more prone to consistency changes when thawed, Kramer notes. “Turkey lunchmeat is going to have a higher percentage of water, so the texture might change a little bit,” she says.
How to safely store frozen deli meat
Deli meat should always be stored in the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below, per the USDA.
“If you have any concern that your freezer is not at the right temperature, you are risking bacteria growth,” Kramer notes. If your freezer temperature is too warm, best practices would be to discard the meat, she says.
To ensure the quality of the meat is protected, seal it in something airtight, such as a freezer storage bag, Kramer recommends.
When it comes to freezing deli meats sliced at the counter, adding parchment paper between the individual slices may help preserve the best quality of the product, Simon suggests.
More:Meat, poultry in BrucePac listeria recall were sent to these 200 schools, USDA reveals
This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Shop top-rated related products:
- Mueller Pro-Series All-in-One,12-Blade Mandoline Slicer
- Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge Cooler for 6 Cans
- Bentgo Classic Adult Bento Box, All-in-One Stackable Lunch Box Container
- Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5
- Homwe 3-Pack Cutting Boards for Kitchen
- OXO Good Grips Vegetable Chopper
- Cuisinart Salad Spinner
- QiMH Collapsible Kitchen Colander, Set of 3
- Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl 3-Piece Set
- Cuisinart 12-Piece Colorful Kitchen Knife Set
veryGood! (49966)
Related
- FBI offers up to $25,000 reward for information about suspect behind Northwest ballot box fires
- Trump and allies face racketeering charges in Georgia — here's what to know about sentencing for RICO convictions
- NPR names veteran newsroom leader Eva Rodriguez as executive editor
- Lauren London Pens Moving Message to Late Partner Nipsey Hussle on His Birthday
- Jessica Simpson's Husband Eric Johnson Steps Out Ringless Amid Split Speculation
- England vs. Australia live updates: How 2 late goals sent Lionesses to World Cup final
- 8 North Dakota newspapers cease with family business’s closure
- Muslim mob attacks 3 churches after accusing Christian man of desecrating Quran in eastern Pakistan
- How Leonardo DiCaprio Celebrated His 50th Birthday
- Britney Spears and Sam Asghari Break Up: Relive Every Piece of Their Romance
Ranking
- QTM Community Introduce
- Man kills his neighbor and shoots her two grandkids before killing himself
- Madonna announces new North American dates for her Celebration Tour
- Lionel Messi tickets for Leagues Cup final in Nashville expected to be hot commodity
- AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
- OCD is not that uncommon: Understand the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Niger coup leaders say they'll prosecute President Bazoum for high treason
- Jennifer Lopez's Birthday Tribute to Husband Ben Affleck Will Have Fans Feelin' So Good
Recommendation
-
Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
-
House Oversight Committee member asks chairman to refer Snyder to the DOJ for investigation
-
It's taking Americans much longer in life to buy their first home
-
Yes, pickleball is a professional sport. Here's how much top players make.
-
Stressing over Election Day? Try these apps and tools to calm your nerves
-
Arkansas school district says it will continue offering AP African American Studies course
-
US attorney pleads with young men in New Mexico’s largest city: Stop the shooting
-
Inmates at California women’s prison sue federal government over sexual abuse