Is it OK to freeze fresh meat? Is there different advice for different types of meat?
It’s OK to freeze fresh meat providing you do the following things: • freeze it before the ‘use by’ date • follow any freezing or thawing instructions on the label • defrost it in a microwave if you intend to cook it as soon as it’s defrosted, otherwise thaw it in the fridge so that it doesn’t get too warm • try to use the meat within two days of defrosting – it will go off in the same way as fresh meat • cook food until it’s steaming hot all the way throughAlways cook chicken and minced-meat products such as sausages and burgers until the juices run clear and there’s no pink meat. When meat thaws, lots of liquid can come out of it. This liquid will spread bacteria to any food, plates or surface that it touches. Keep the meat in a sealed container at the bottom of the fridge so that it can’t touch or drip onto other foods. Always thoroughly clean plates, utensils, surfaces and hands after they have touched raw or thawing meat. If you defrost raw meat and then cook it thoroughly, you ca
