Press Release

CAB Freezing Beef Interview

Take Time to Chill

Your freezer – have you looked in it lately? The arctic cavern also known as your freezer can often become overrun with bags, packages and icicles. No need to cause a brain freeze though – with the correct cuts of beef and a little planning, your freezer will go from the scary abominable snowman to your friend, Frosty the snowman. To thaw out the truth, lifestyle expert Amy Tobin of Inspired Ideas shared some of her beef freezing tips.

Doubt little, freeze lots

Beef is a great meat to freeze; specifically, the lean cuts of beef (look for “loin” or “round” in the name) freeze very well. That includes premium steak cuts like filet or strip steak. Certified Angus Beef  ^® brand cuts stand up to the freezer better, Tobin says. With their extra marbling they handle the quick change in temperature easily. It’s also important to remember that thawing should only happen in the refrigerator, says Tobin. Try her favorite cut to freeze with this recipe:

Beer Marinated Grilled Flank Steak

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 pounds Certified Angus Beef ^® flank steak
1 (12-ounce) bottle Guinness draught
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Beer Marinated Grilled Flank SteakInstructions

1. Combine Guinness, onion, garlic, and peppers in a zipper-locking plastic bag with beef. Marinate 6 to 8 hours in refrigerator.
2. Remove steak; discard marinade and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat to desired doneness.
3. Let steak rest 5 minutes; slice thinly across grain and serve.

Marinate on This

Why not marinate in the freezer? It’s the best of both worlds. Prepare your favorite liquid marinade and pour over a steak before putting it in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy it, your meat will be thawing in its marinade. Double duty, who doesn’t love that? This island inspired recipe will bring a little “sunshine” to any day of the week!

Sun-Kissed Marinade

Yield: 1 1/4 cups, ideal for 2 to 2 1/2 pounds Certified Angus Beef ^® brand steaks

Ingredients

1/4 cup light molasses or honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Sun-Kissed MarinadeInstructions

Combine all ingredients. Place in zipper-locking plastic bag with Certified Angus Beef ^® steaks. Close bag, removing air. Freeze, then put in refrigerator to thaw when needed. Then remove steak and discard marinade. Grill or broil steak to desired doneness.

Ice, Ice Baby

Buying extra beef means extra cost. Don’t let freezer burn turn have you turning a cold shoulder to the freezing process. Follow these steps for the best results:

1. Make sure your freezer is at 0ºF.
2. Remove any excess moisture from beef.
3. Place beef in a heavy duty plastic storage bag.
4. Remove as much air as possible and any extra moisture, and seal tightly.
5.  Label package with date, exact cut of meat, serving size and any last minute cooking instructions.

Create a Freezer File-A-Fax

Tobin recommends freezing items on a cookie sheet. It allows the bags to lay flat, creating a simple filing system for your freezer items. Another tip from Tobin: use larger storage bags to hold the same cut of meat or use plastic storage bins. They can easily hold different cuts or recipes. Just remember, says Tobin, use the first in, first out rule: whatever you put in first should be the first thing that comes out. Try and refresh your freezer every 6 months.

The Certified Angus Beef ^® brand is the best Angus beef available and a cut above USDA Prime, Choice and Select. Ten standards ensure its premium quality and incredible flavor, tenderness and juiciness in every bite. It is proudly featured by more than 12,300 restaurants and retailers around the world. For more information, visit www.certifiedangusbeef.com, or follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.

Sidebar: More freezer-bound beef meal ideas

• Slice Certified Angus Beef ^® brand New York strip steaks very thinly, and have sandwiches as an easy weeknight dish.
• For an Asian inspired meal, cut Certified Angus Beef ^® brand flat-iron steak into strips and freeze for a stir-fry.
• Brown Certified Angus Beef ^® brand ground beef in large quantities and bag to freeze in one pound servings. Add to chili, tomato sauces, or add taco seasoning for taco night. There’s no need to thaw the meat beforehand!