Our Top Tips For Freezing & Defrosting Our Meat

Though an everyday task, there are a number of simple measures you can take to make sure you're keeping things safe in the kitchen, and enjoying the very best meat possible.

FREEZING

• On delivery of your fresh Farmison & Co products ensure the label is intact and the packaging is not damaged.
• If the packaging is damaged transfer to a new sealable freezer pouch, gently easing out as much excess air as possible before sealing the products. Ensure the new pouch is relabeled, and, if you are splitting a batch of products each package should be relabelled and the date the product is frozen wrote onto the pouch.
• If freezing the goods upon delivery, mark the package with a indelible marker pen with the date you are freezing the products on.
• Farmison & Co suggest freezing produce for a maximum of 3 months.
• When placing goods in the freezer place towards the bottom of the freezer and make sure there are no heavy items sat on the product.
• Your freezer should be set at a minimum of minus 15 oc.

DEFROSTING

• Prior to cooking your products you must remove the items from the freezer a minimum of 24 hours before use (48 hours on larger joints in excess of 1 kilo).
• Place the item on a flat tray and place in the bottom of the fridge to defrost gently.
• Before cooking, the items must be thoroughly defrosted (meat soft to touch).
• Remove from the packaging, pat any excess moisture away and prepare to cook following your chosen recipe.
• For more specific timings see our defrosting a turkey guide or our defrosting lamb guide.

REMEMBER

• Never defrost meat in warm areas such as on or near a radiator or in direct sunlight.
• Never defrost meat in warm or hot water.
• Never defrost meat items placed above cooked or ready to eat produce.
• Never defrost meat which is close to or out of date.