freezing meat

lilbit07

What do you store your meat in when you freeze it?  Currently we use Ziploc freezer bags and I try to clean and reuse them for the same type of meat, but I'd like to use something else if I can.  I was toying with the idea of buying freezer paper, like Reynolds sells, but I just read it's coated in plastic on one side, so now I'm not so sure...

mrsskiz

I use a vacuum sealer. It keeps your food freasher longer because there is no air at all. Which leads to no waste. I too wash and re-use them, but only when I speed thaw meats. It has much less time to harbor bacteria. A good idea would be to use a butchers paper that you can recycle and wrap your meats in that, then vacuum seal it. That way you wont waste money buying more bags, your food stays fresh, and you can recycle the paper.

7river7wed7

I have a foodsaver and love it. There is some waste generated because I typically won't reuse the packaging, but I also buy my meat in bulk... so I guess that makes me feel better that it balances out.

I use it for chicken, hamburger, chicken stock, pasta sauces and even meals I make double of to freeze one. It's fab.

SuperGreen

Mrs.Skiz:

That way you wont waste money buying more bags, your food stays fresh, and you can recycle the paper.

You can't recycle paper that has food stains or residue on it...

Anywho, we leave it in the packaging from the Farmer's Market.  We're thinking of buying 1/4 of a cow soon, if that happens we'll use our vacuum sealer.

gldngrl

We use butcher paper when we process a deer.  Then we put multiple wrapped items in a ziplock that can be reused because it doesn't come in contact with the meat.