<p>Thought this might be a refreshing change from politics …</p>
<p>My local grocery store is having a great sale on the turkey my kids eat for lunch – less than half the regular price. I’m tempted to stock up and am wondering whether you can freeze unopened packages of lunchmeat.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>[Keep</a> Food Safe! Food Safety Basics](<a href=“http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Keep_Food_Safe_Food_Safety_Basics/index.asp]Keep”>http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Keep_Food_Safe_Food_Safety_Basics/index.asp)</p>
<p>You’re good! Gracias.</p>
<p>That was helpful. Thanks, hazmat.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link. I have frozen freshly sliced deli meat for a week or two (when I knew I couldn’t get back to the market for fresh). Remember to thaw in the refridgerator and full thawing will take at least 24-36 hours.</p>
<p>(You can freeze anything. The question is how good it tastes when you defrost it.)</p>
<p>I had never thought of freezing lunchmeat before reading this thread. So: once again I learn something valuable from CC.</p>
<p>I do this all the time. Buy the big Costco deli packs, slice in half with a sharp knife and freeze half. (Those slices are way bigger than bread anyway). It keeps 3 or 4 weeks nicely if you have made sure to get all the air out of the freezer-weight ziplock. It’s wetter when thawed because of the ice crystals breaking down cell walls… just pat with paper towels before it hits the bread (or salad, or whatever).</p>
<p>Had to respond to this thread.</p>
<p>I have been freezing lunchmeats for some time. The line at my grocery store that has the brand we like (Boars Head) can be so long that I bought a large quantity and froze it in individual baggies and it was fine. A little watery, but that just makes it more moist for sandwiches. After the initial trial, I did it often. </p>
<p>My son that eats cold cuts is in college and younger son never eats them so I don’t freeze them any more. I still freeze American Cheese for him though. I buy a pound or more at a time, separate it and freeze it. Running low, just put the package in the fridge to defrost. No change in taste or texture. Not watery like the meats. </p>
<p>Instead of baggies, I now use Glad Press 'N Seal instead because it is easy to use and seal without air in it. Easy to open too. I wrap the cheese (or meat) in smaller portions, then place the portions in a zip lock. </p>
<p>PERFECT.</p>
<p>Do you think Sarah Palin freezes lunchmeats? Or her primary caretaker husband? ;)</p>
<p>[Edit: That is, Does her primary caretaker husband freeze lunchmeats; NOT, Does Sarah Palin freeze her primary caretaker husband? That would be silly. :eek:]</p>
<p>and we must, at all costs, not be silly when discussing politics! ;)</p>
<p>Or lunchmeats!!!</p>
<p>youdon’tsay, when I read the title of this thread (after slogging through the Palin thread), I laughed. Thank you for that! :)</p>
<p>Yes. But the resulting dethawed meat will be dry. Why, because there is “water added” from the injected water basting. This water is intermusclar, then crystalized as ice which expands the intermuscle spaces. On defrosting, the widen spaces collects water and will weep out.</p>
<p>So will the lunchmeat be drier (13) or wetter (7)?</p>
<p>And,do they make moose cold cuts? :D</p>
<p>moose jerky.</p>
<p>Yes you can freeze most lunchmeat. However, I will say…when you defrost frozen turkey cold cut meat, it tends to be very watery…and I think it spoils quickly. I freeze it in 1/4 pound packs.</p>
<p>Moose jerky – I love it.</p>
<p>Here ya go-- a recipe for Alaska Moose Jerkey [AOJ’s</a> Alaska Moose Jerky Recipe](<a href=“http://alaskaoutdoorjournal.com/Departments/Recipes/Canning/moosejerky.html]AOJ’s”>http://alaskaoutdoorjournal.com/Departments/Recipes/Canning/moosejerky.html) </p>
<p>::slapping my own hand:: (sorry-- I couldnt help myself…)</p>
<p>Quote:</p>
<p>“Do you think Sarah Palin freezes lunchmeats?”</p>
<p>Only lunchmeat made from non-endangered species (like polar bears) that are legally shot from helicopters (the man-made exhaust from which is not a cause of global warming) with AK-47 assault rifles (which are used for home defense).</p>