How to Save and Properly Freeze Steaks for Home Cooking

Handling meat can be a bit intimidating to new cooks. Often we are made to believe that we can only achieve fresh-tasting meals with fresh meat. We are spooked into purchasing single or double packs of steaks for steep prices, but the truth is cooking meat from frozen can taste the same if the meat is frozen properly. Here are some tips I learned from my food handling course and restaurant management experience. 

Flash Freeze

This flash freezing method (steps 2&3) ensures that the meat is freshly frozen and ready to be stored long term. Freezers are harsh environments, with high freezing temperature, moisture is taken out of the air leaving meat tasteless and freezer burnt. To avoid freezer burn ensure your protein is stored in an airtight ziplock or sealed with a food saver for longterm storage. 

Bulk Buy Protein

With this freezing method, you are able to purchase a larger quantity of protein for a lower bulk cost. Simply butcher your steaks to your preferred thickness, freeze overnight on a baking tray, and place in airtight ziplock bags for freezer storage. (Remember to write the type of protein and date it was frozen on your ziplock bag.)

Cook From Frozen

Cooking protein from frozen is not harmful and does not take away from the taste if the protein is frozen properly. Cooking from frozen saves you time from planning and needing to dethaw the protein prior to cooking. Spice your protein after with a spice mix or sauce. 

When ready to cook steaks, preheat oven to 400 degrees, add some oil on to a non-stick grill skillet, on high-medium sear steaks on both sides. Place in the oven to finish cooking, for 1-inch steaks, bake for 15-20  minutes, for 2-inch steaks bake for 20-30 minutes depending on how well done you like your steaks. Check the internal temperature for doneness.  Remember to let your steak rest and finished by topping your steak with minced garlic and butter. Enjoy delicious steak for a fraction of the price any day of the week. Give these simple tips a try. 

xoxo LL