Take Time to Chill: Freezing Tips with Certified Angus Beef

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 Beer Marinated Grilled Flank Steak

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.