We all know it’s cheapest to buy ground beef with a coupon when it’s on sale. But what I like even more is when those huge packs of meat — I’m talking about five pounds or more — go on sale. Because I don’t have a lot of time when dinner rolls around, I like to cook my ground beef right after I bring it home from the grocery store, divide it into smaller portions and pop it in the freezer. This way at meal times, all I have to do is reheat and eat!
How to Freeze Cooked Ground Beef:
- Once ground beef is fully cooked, place in a bowl and cool in the refrigerator.
- Once completely cooled, remove beef from the refrigerator and place in a freezer bag. If desired, separate into smaller servings and place in separate bags. This is especially useful if you have cooked a large amount of meat or plan on only cooking for one or two people at a time.
- Squeeze out as much air as possible from the freezer bag and seal tightly.
- Label bag with a permanent marker, noting the date and contents.
- Store in the freezer for up to 4 months.
- Thaw ground beef in the refrigerator overnight when ready to use. With some recipes, like spaghetti sauce, you can use the meat while it is still frozen. Just throw the frozen ground beef directly in the sauce. Because it’s precooked, it just needs to be heated throughout. However, to be safe, make sure that all ground beef is reheated to a temperature of at least 165 degrees F
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