Stocking up on cold cuts ahead of a gathering or event is no cheap venture.
Chelsea Edwardsis a registered dietitian and the owner ofHuntsville Nutrition Collectivein Huntsville, Alabama.
Is It Okay To Freeze Deli Meat?
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
For best quality, it’s ideal to eat frozen deli meats within one to two months of freezing.
Which Deli Meat Can Be Frozen?
Cured meats will maintain their quality in the freezer for up to three months, she says.
How To Freeze Deli Meat
The best key in of deli meat to freeze is prepackaged.
Ideally, deli meat is frozen before opening in a sealed package, Edwards says.
Edwards says that in both cases its smart to date the package for easy reference.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
How To Defrost Deli Meat
Ready to make a sandwich with cold cuts from the freezer?
It’s as easy as planning ahead.
Defrosted too much meat?
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Deli Meat vs. Nitrites are added to deli meat during the curing process.
Uncured meats are also preserved, but the preservation process is done via salts and flavorings.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.AskUSDA: How long does lunch meat stay fresh?Published May 21, 2024.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services FoodSafety.gov.Cold Food Storage Chart.
Published June 24, 2019.
USDA Food Safety Inspection Service.The Big Thaw Safe Defrosting Methods.
Fifield K.How safe is it to freeze and refreeze meat?Michigan State University Extension Safe Food & Water.
Published October 9, 2018.
