Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef?: Wagyu beef is famous as the most flavorful beef in the world. It only comes from a few specific strains of cows in Japan, and due to its high level of quality, the price is higher than that of other types of beef.
What if you’ve ordered premium Wagyu beef but are not ready to eat it just yet? Whether it’s being saved for a special occasion or part of a large order to stock up, all Wagyu beef needs to be properly handled and stored to preserve its flavorful, tender qualities. Use our freezing tips to make sure your Wagyu beef stays in prime condition until you’re ready to start cooking.
- Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef?
- How To Freeze Wagyu Beef?
- How Long Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef?
- How To Thaw Wagyu Beef?
- Does Wagyu Beef Freeze Well?
- Can You Refreeze Wagyu Beef?
- How To Tell If Wagyu Is Spoiled?
- Can you freeze A5 Wagyu?
- Can you freeze Kobe Beef?
- Can you cook frozen Wagyu beef?
Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef?
Yes, wagyu beef can be frozen if you’re not ready to eat it within a day or two. Raw meat should be kept in the freezer to prevent spoilage. Due to the higher fat percentage in Wagyu, the quality of the meat is not degraded much by freezing, which happens with most other meats. And most likely, your wagyu beef was frozen when it was shipped.
While all meat products are best eaten fresh, you can easily extend the life of your Wagyu with a bit of preparation and by following a few simple freezing steps. Just make sure the packaging is airtight. If the original packaging has been compromised, consider placing it in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container for an extra layer of protection. Also, keep beef on the lowest shelf in the coldest part of the freezer, far away from the door if possible. Stay tuned to find out the best wagyu beef freezing tips.
How To Freeze Wagyu Beef?
Freezing wagyu beef raw is the best way to do it. Follow these steps to freeze raw wagyu beef:
- Portion Out: Decide your portion requirement for wagyu beef. You may have already bought the wagyu beef separately and cut it into steaks, but if not, then consider cutting it yourself into portions.
- Wrap: Wrap each steak or beef portion in cling film before you go any further. To ensure that your wagyu beef stays as delicious as possible, make sure that no air can get to it while it is in the fridge or freezer.
- Bag Up: Once your beef has been tightly wrapped, you can pop it into a large freezer bag or container. Squeeze out as much air from the bag as you can, and seal it properly.
- Freeze: Label the bag with the date and contents and place it in the freezer. This will help you in deciding when you can consume the frozen meat before it gets spoiled.
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How Long Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef?
Wagyu beef can be kept for a fairly long time in the freezer without worrying about spoilage. Interestingly, you can freeze wagyu beef for up to a year! However, we would recommend that you use the beef as soon as you can to ensure optimum freshness.
Alternatively, if kept in the coolest part of your fridge and in an airtight container or wrapped, it will keep for around 48 hours in the fridge. When you freeze wagyu, it can extend the “best by” date usually printed on the package. However, in some situations, it can be safe for human consumption if stored in the freezer, but too long freezing may impact the taste.
| Wagyu beef | Shelf Life |
| In The Freezer | 12 months |
| In the Refrigerator | 48 hours |
How To Thaw Wagyu Beef?
Arguably the most important, and perhaps the most overlooked step in the Wagyu freezing process is the thawing of your frozen meat. Proper thawing is needed to avoid the spread of nasty bacteria and the onset of even nastier food poisoning in frozen meat.
The best method for thawing frozen meat is to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. This will help avoid the spread of bacteria in your Wagyu beef by keeping it cool and will provide the best quality of meat once cooked. Wagyu beef does not need to be cooked immediately if thawed in the refrigerator and can be kept there for three to five days.
A faster way to thaw your Wagyu beef is through cold water thawing. For this, keep the beef in a sealed plastic container and submerge it in a bucket or sink filled with cold tap water. Remember, if you thaw using the cold water method, your wagyu will need to be cooked immediately. Another method of thawing meat is via the microwave.
Mind you, this method will compromise the taste and tenderness of your Wagyu beef and is not recommended for more delicate cuts such as steaks and roasts. Also, Wagyu beef that has been thawed in the microwave should be cooked immediately.
Does Wagyu Beef Freeze Well?
Yes, if you are freezing fresh wagyu beef while it is still raw, then it does freeze well. It is even one of the best types of meat to freeze because it usually has a delicious fat running through it, which helps give the beef its excellent flavor, and helps it freeze well too.
Even though the wagyu does freeze well, it may not taste as good as it would have if it had been eaten fresh, and if you freeze your leftovers, you may notice a slight change in texture. However, this wouldn’t change your enjoyment of the meat. So always freeze the wagyu beef as quickly as possible.
To know about other meat varieties do visit our article on Can You Freeze Beef Stew and clear your queries on the entire freezing process.
Can You Refreeze Wagyu Beef?
If you can’t consume the whole wagyu beef in one sitting, you can refreeze it. However, refreezing is best done while the beef is still vacuum packed and before it’s been thawed for 24 hours or more. If you take any longer than this, you can risk the growth of bacteria, particularly if it is no longer vacuum sealed.
Sometimes refreezing is important to avoid food waste. Particularly when your beef is expensive like wagyu and deserves to be eaten rather than thrown away. Refreezing is an unpopular move, but surprise: most meat is frozen at least twice before it reaches the customer.
How To Tell If Wagyu Is Spoiled?
When you consider freezing your food, it is more important to look into other aspects of the food to see if it is spoiled. When it comes to Wagyu beef spoilage, there are a few things to look out for:
- Slimy surface: If your Wagyu has a slightly slimy surface, it may be spoiled. This will develop into something clear or slightly yellow and will make the steak seem shinier than usual. After this, the mold will begin to grow.
- Off Smell: The smell of spoiled beef is usually pretty obvious and bad. The smell of spoiled wagyu beef is usually off and very potent.
- Discoloration: Another sign that your meat is spoiled is if the steak is a different color. Usually, wagyu should be red and white. If it looks more brown, yellow, or green, you should not consume it. It may only be in one location, too, but any area is a sign of being spoiled.
- Dry: Wagyu is known for being more tender and juicy than other steaks. Touch it, and if it seems dry, the meat might be old and spoiled.
We suggest cooking your Wagyu as soon as possible to help avoid the above concerns and to enjoy its best taste.
FAQs on Freezing Wagyu Beef
A5 wagyu is the best wagyu money can buy, so freezing it might sound interesting. Yes, you can freeze A5 wagyu, but it will never be quite as good as it was originally; therefore, we’d advise not freezing it.
Kobe is much like wagyu beef and is also revered, therefore, the process for freezing Kobe beef is identical to that of freezing wagyu. As with wagyu, you must take time to ensure that Kobe is stored airtight before popping it into the freezer.
3. Can you cook frozen Wagyu beef?
Yes, it’s possible to cook frozen wagyu without thawing it first. This method cooks the beef evenly, loses less moisture, and tastes better.
Wrapping Up
We hope our tips can help ensure that your beef stays fresh while frozen. When you follow these tips, you should be able to enjoy the same flavorful and luxurious dining experience regardless of whether you plan to eat your wagyu beef right away or freeze it first.
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