9 Tips for Stocking Up on Frozen Meat

Last Updated on January 28, 2025

Depending on how you look at it, a freezer full of meat can be a blessing or a curse.

For those who feel overwhelmed with the feeling of having too much meat or those interested in building their own healthy stockpile, we’d love to share some tips to make everyone feel at ease and happy to have an organized meat section of the freezer.

Keeping frozen meat on hand is helpful in so many ways: It allows you to shop for meat while it’s available, fix dinner in a pinch when you haven’t figured anything out, and keep stores of meat in case of an emergency.

Still, it isn’t always as simple as buying a pack of meat and chucking it in the freezer. There are some tips and tricks you’ll want to follow to retain the quality of the meat. In this article, we’ll cover all the essentials—from proper storage, to how long frozen meat lasts, how to thaw it, and more.

Let this guide help you stock your freezer and build delicious meals.

1. Invest in sturdy freezer bags.

Frozen meat may keep for a long time (keep scrolling to learn how long you should keep meat in the freezer), but it can be prone to freezer burn and deteriorating quality.

To protect against this, you’ll want to invest in sturdy freezer bags. Make sure the box of bags says “freezer,” as everyday zip-top bags are made of a thinner plastic and are less effective against freezer burn.

For extra protection, you can tightly wrap your meat in plastic wrap or foil before placing it in a freezer bag. And if you’re really looking to retain the quality of frozen meat, consider purchasing a vacuum sealer. This will prolong the time your meat can stay in the freezer and taste just as good as fresh.

Fortunately, many ButcherBox cuts come vacuum-sealed. You can go ahead and pop these in the freezer as-is.

2. Stock up when prices and availability are best.

Here’s one of the most important tips for stocking up on meat—if a cut you love is only available at certain times of the year or is part of a special deal, grab it for the freezer. This is where stocking up saves you time, money, and adds a level of ease to your meal-planning.

You can cook your favorite recipes at any time of the year without having to worry that a certain cut you love might not be available.

3. Prep before freezing.

If you meal prep, you’re familiar with the concept of getting your food ready to assemble and eat. The same idea applies to frozen meat.

If you want to trim some fat, doing so when the meat is frozen will make sure it’s ready to go when you need it.

It’s also a good idea to divide larger packages of meat into smaller portions to fit your meal needs.

Planning to make a stew or soup with chunks of chicken or beef? You can chop up your meat when frozen before popping back into the freezer, ready to pop into your recipe.

The one thing to remember, however, when it comes to pre-packaged frozen meat, if your meat

4. Label everything.

If you’re dividing up cuts of meat, you’re going to want to label each bag. You may think you’ll remember what you’ve frozen, but if it’s spent a long time in the back of your freezer, it’s easy to forget. So, label each bag with the type of meat, the number of pieces or pounds, and the date you froze it.

5. Freeze cooked meat for easy meals.

Freezing raw meat is a great way to prolong the shelf life of your food, but you can freeze cooked meat too. Think frozen cooked ground beef that you can throw in the Instant Pot with your favorite seasonings, or frozen cooked chicken that thaws into the perfect base for chicken salad.

So, if you have any leftover cooked meat that needs saving, or you’d like to prep ahead, feel free to freeze your cooked meat too.

6. Buy extra of any limited-time offerings.

Is there a unique cut on sale for only a limited time? Think corned beef brisket in March, or whole turkeys and hams in November. This is a great time to stock up! Grab a few extra (whatever will fit in your freezer, of course) and stow them for another meal.

You don’t have to recreate a full Thanksgiving spread, either (though you totally can if you want to). Use turkey in soups, stews, casseroles, or salads. Make omelettes, ham salad, sandwiches, and more with the ham. The possibilities are endless.

7. How long should you keep meat in the freezer?

Technically, frozen meat will store in the freezer indefinitely, so long as a proper 0°F temperature is maintained. However, it can take on freezer burn and deteriorate in quality with time. It may be safe to eat, but not as appealing as a fresh cut of meat.

Properly stored meat should maintain its freshness for at least three months in the freezer, and likely longer. Try to eat your frozen meat within that sweet spot for the best quality.

8. Here’s the best way to thaw meat:

There are two great, safe ways to thaw your meat. The easiest is to simply chuck the meat in the refrigerator for 24 hours, or longer if it’s a large cut. If you’re looking to thaw meat quickly, place it in a bowl of cool water, and let water run over it. Just don’t leave out in room temperature too long,

Forgot to thaw your meat? Don’t fret—there are plenty of methods for cooking meat from frozen. Give any one of these recipes a try:

• NY Strip from Frozen
• Top Sirloin from Frozen
• Pork Chops from Frozen
• Ground Beef from Frozen

9. Going all in? Get a deep freezer.

We’ve covered some key tips and tricks for stocking up on frozen meat. If you’re ready to jump in and really stock up on meat, then you might need some extra space. Invest in a deep freezer, or chest freezer, to create a stockpile.

We hope these meat freezing tips help you get on your way to stocking up on frozen meat. Good luck!