Freezing lunchmeat

In article <[email hidden]>,

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

I've found it tends to dry out unless I vacuum pack it.
If you have a Tilia, it won't be a problem....
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

"notbob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

Loses texture. Check the expiration date on the sealed package and you may
be surprised at how long you can keep it just in the fridge.

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

I hate to grocery shop, so I buy at least one whole pound of high
quality shaved ham, beef and turkey that I'll use just for lunch
sandwiches at work as I need. I then two-sandwich portion the meats to
vacuum seal and freeze. Over two months in the freezer seems to dry
the packages out only slightly before I've used the last bit. But I
compensate for the dryness by using more mayo, tomato and seasonings
than I may have with the fresher.

....Picky

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

The salt content of cold cuts keeps it from freezing properly and
causes textural degradation. If by "lunchmeat" you mean a ground ham
loaf product (ie. spiced ham) you can cook it first and then freeze it,
or use it in casaroles (ie. creamed pasta dish, pot pies, etc., spiced
ham is good diced and baked into bread, good in bean soup too) and then
freeze that. The cooking will drive out most of the excess water and
so the texture won't change so noticeably from freezing, but still
salty foods do not have a very long freezer shelf life. So how much of
this lunchmeat you talking... two packs = two pounds? That is not so
much you can't consume it within a week or two, and should keep that
long in the fridge, so long as you don't open a pack until you're ready
to use it and do not separate the slices either... sealed
cryovac/vacuum type packs can keep in the fridge a long time past its
'sell-by' date, it's fresh sliced cold cuts from the deli that go bad
quickly... often those are already contaminated when purchased, from
unsafe handling and filthy slicing machines.

Sheldon

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

I buy that ham regularly and it lasts way beyond the use-by dates with
no loss of quality. I keep it in the cheese drawer in my fridge. The
slices are thin and I find it takes a few of them to make a decent
sandwich. I've kept unopened packages for as long as a month before using.

I've never tried to freeze it.

Pastorio

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

I'd freeze it in small portions because things defrosted only keep 24 hrs.

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

My DH has been freezing those Costco double packs of sliced ham for
years. Works like a charm for him - no adverse effects on the product
whatsoever. Just be sure you thaw in the fridge, not out on the
counter.

Nancy

notbob said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

My DH has been freezing those Costco double packs of sliced ham for
years. Works like a charm for him - no adverse effects on the product
whatsoever. Just be sure you thaw in the fridge, not out on the
counter.

Nancy

jake said:

notbob said:

Can ya'?
I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

I'd freeze it in small portions because things defrosted only keep 24 hrs.

This makes no sense. You can't apply a general rule to all foods and
this is a processed food. It will last as long after thawing as it would
have had it not been frozen.

Pastorio

notbob said:

Can ya'?

We do it all the time. It is fine.

serene

ntantiques said:

My DH has been freezing those Costco double packs of sliced ham for
years. Works like a charm for him - no adverse effects on the product
whatsoever. Just be sure you thaw in the fridge, not out on the
counter.

Thanks, Nancy ...and all other respondents.

nb

:Hi: I found that sliced ham that had been frozen and thawed is rubbery in
texture.

Joe
"notbob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

"notbob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can ya'?

I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

Yes - its done all the time although look at the sell by date and it may not be
necessary. If you do freeze it you'll need to Temper the cold cuts in the
fridge for several days to defrost. This will give you the least texture/flavor
loss.

Dimitri

Bob (this one) said:

jake said:

notbob said:

Can ya'? I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham
lunchmeat from
Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....

nb

I'd freeze it in small portions because things defrosted only keep 24
hrs.

This makes no sense. You can't apply a general rule to all foods and
this is a processed food. It will last as long after thawing as it would
have had it not been frozen.

Pastorio

I would love it if you were right. To my knowledge, freezing doesn't
kill bacteria and during defrosting they try and catch up and duplicate
faster than they would otherwise. Therefore, defrosted foods shouldn't
be kept too long. I don't remember *where* I read this (i think it was a
magazine, years ago). So I can't vouch for it. But I wouldn't take too
many chances with it, myself. Don't want to have to waste food or get sick.

But if I am wrong, all the better. It would make my deforesting life easier.

"Bob (this one)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jake said:

Bob (this one) said:

jake wrote:

> notbob wrote:
>
>> Can ya'? I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham
>> lunchmeat from
>> Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
>> never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
>> works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....
>>
>> nb
>
> I'd freeze it in small portions because things defrosted only keep 24
> hrs.

Quoted message said:

This makes no sense. You can't apply a general rule to all foods and
this is a processed food. It will last as long after thawing as it would
have had it not been frozen.

Pastorio

I would love it if you were right. To my knowledge, freezing doesn't kill
bacteria and during defrosting they try and catch up and duplicate faster
than they would otherwise.

Not really. Some kinds of bacteria are killed by freezing, but I wouldn't
suggest that as a sterilization method. As for catching up, the food is
still cold and cold [censored] bacterial growth. There's no speeding up in
the way of this suggestion.

Quoted message said:

Therefore, defrosted foods shouldn't be kept too long. I don't remember
*where* I read this (i think it was a magazine, years ago). So I can't
vouch for it. But I wouldn't take too many chances with it, myself. Don't
want to have to waste food or get sick.

It sounds like they confused coming out of freezing with being
refrigerated and warming to room temp. Warming to room temp would spur
growth and they would reproduce faster than if they were refrigerated.

In any event, the activity that source offered is simply wrong as concerns
defrosting.

Quoted message said:

But if I am wrong, all the better. It would make my deforesting life
easier.

I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok...

Pastorio

He's a lumberjack and he's OK, He sleeps all night and works all day.

Dee Dee

Dee Randall said:

"Bob (this one)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jake said:

Bob (this one) wrote:

>jake wrote:
>
>
>>notbob wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Can ya'? I bought one of those big ol' double packs of lean ham
>>>lunchmeat from
>>>Costco. It's gonna take me weeks to get through the first pack. I've
>>>never had reason to freeze lunchmeat before so I have no idea how that
>>>works out. I suspect it will be ok. Yes, no?.....
>>>
>>>nb
>>
>>I'd freeze it in small portions because things defrosted only keep 24
>>hrs.

>This makes no sense. You can't apply a general rule to all foods and
>this is a processed food. It will last as long after thawing as it would
>have had it not been frozen.
>
>Pastorio

I would love it if you were right. To my knowledge, freezing doesn't kill
bacteria and during defrosting they try and catch up and duplicate faster
than they would otherwise.

Not really. Some kinds of bacteria are killed by freezing, but I wouldn't
suggest that as a sterilization method. As for catching up, the food is
still cold and cold [censored] bacterial growth. There's no speeding up in
the way of this suggestion.

Quoted message said:

Therefore, defrosted foods shouldn't be kept too long. I don't remember
*where* I read this (i think it was a magazine, years ago). So I can't
vouch for it. But I wouldn't take too many chances with it, myself. Don't
want to have to waste food or get sick.

It sounds like they confused coming out of freezing with being
refrigerated and warming to room temp. Warming to room temp would spur
growth and they would reproduce faster than if they were refrigerated.

In any event, the activity that source offered is simply wrong as concerns
defrosting.

Quoted message said:

But if I am wrong, all the better. It would make my deforesting life
easier.

I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok...

Pastorio

He's a lumberjack and he's OK, He sleeps all night and works all day.

Now I know I've made it to the big time. I have a backup singer. <LOL>

Pastorio

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >

Quoted message said:

He's a lumberjack and he's OK, He sleeps all night and works all day.

*cough*

Oh, I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay.
I sleep all night and I work all day.

Mounties : He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.

Mounties: He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch.
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shopping
And has buttered scones for tea.

Chorus : I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.

Mounties : He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!

Chorus : I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Mama (or Papa in later versions)

Mounties : He cuts down trees. He wears high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra?!

Chorus : I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

Yes, I'm (He's) a lumberjack, and I'm (he's) ok-a-y.
I (He) sleep(s) all night and I (he) work(s) all day.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I would love it if you were right. To my knowledge, freezing doesn't
kill bacteria and during defrosting they try and catch up and
duplicate faster than they would otherwise.

Not really. Some kinds of bacteria are killed by freezing, but I
wouldn't suggest that as a sterilization method. As for catching up, the
food is still cold and cold [censored] bacterial growth. There's no
speeding up in the way of this suggestion.

Quoted message said:

Therefore, defrosted foods shouldn't be kept too long. I don't
remember *where* I read this (i think it was a magazine, years ago).
So I can't vouch for it. But I wouldn't take too many chances with it,
myself. Don't want to have to waste food or get sick.

It sounds like they confused coming out of freezing with being
refrigerated and warming to room temp. Warming to room temp would spur
growth and they would reproduce faster than if they were refrigerated.

That makes sense.

Quoted message said:

In any event, the activity that source offered is simply wrong as
concerns defrosting.

Quoted message said:

But if I am wrong, all the better. It would make my deforesting life
easier.

I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok...

🙂