Table of Contents

• Deep Freezer
• Kitchen Freezer
• Freezer Bags
• Vacuum Sealing
• Meat Storage Tips
• Meat Chart  

There are a number of reasons to store meat in bulk for an extended period of time. It could be to get you through storm season, or maybe you just always want to have a hefty supply of protein on standby for you and your family. Regardless of the reason, doing it the right way is necessary for your health and the quality of the meat once you’re ready to eat it. 

Meat Storage requires a freezer temperature between 28°F to 32°F. The closer the temperature creeps towards 40°F the more the meat begins to breakdown (regardless of meat type). At 50°F rapid bacterial growth sets in. By following the recommendations outlined in this article, you can ensure a safe product that will last for months and even years.   

Meat Storage Options

Meat Storage Tips

Organization

Properly organizing your meats is super important for not only your convenience but your safety as well. Improperly stored meat can lead to cross contamination and thus food born illnesses. This is something you want to avoid at all costs.

• Rule 1: If meat is removed from it’s original packaging, you must place it into a container (freezer bag or plastic wear) that seals it securely enough to lock out the air. 

• Rule 2: If you are storing different types of meats it is important that you adhere to a specific stowing order for safety reasons. For instance, raw chicken and turkey should always go on the bottom shelf. This is because they carry a higher likelihood of cross contaminating other meats that are cooked at lower temperatures. As a rule of thumb meats should be stored in the following order: whole fish, whole cuts of beef or pork, fish and ground meats, ground and whole poultry.         

Temperature

To safely store meat for the long-term temperatures should be between 28°F and 32°F. Rapid bacteria growth sets in at temperatures of 50°F and above. 

Storage Window

It is important to store meat as soon as possible, and definitely prior to the “use by date”. This will make a huge difference in the quality of the meat once you decide to eat it. Once frozen the meat will cease to decompose and will be safe to consume at a later time.

Meat Storage Timelines

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