[Various recipes] 3 tips for using frozen minced meat deliciously

What should I do if I buy too much ground meat or have leftovers?

We recommend freezing unused minced meat.
​You can store it for about a month by freezing it.

However, care must be taken when handling it. If you don't do it properly, the quality will gradually deteriorate.

In order to use frozen minced meat deliciously, there are three important things: to store it properly, to thaw it properly, and to cook it properly.

Tip 1: How to properly freeze ground meat

In order to maintain the quality of ground meat, it is important to freeze it in the correct way.

If you just put the ground meat you bought in the freezer, it will lose its flavor.
​Here are four things to keep in mind when freezing ground meat.

Refrigerate while fresh

As soon as you purchase it, put it in the freezer to cool it down.
If food loses freshness and quality deteriorates before freezing, it will not be able to maintain its deliciousness.

Also, when purchasing, it is important to choose the freshest products possible.

Store tightly closed

When exposed to air, it oxidizes and bacteria can easily breed, so wrap it in plastic wrap to avoid exposure to air as much as possible, then place it in a storage bag and seal it.

Because ground meat has a large surface area exposed to air, it is said to be easily oxidized and spoiled.

They are often sold in trays, but if they remain in the tray they will be exposed to air, so it is important to remove them from the tray and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap to force out the air before freezing. is.

Freeze in portions

By dividing into easy-to-use portions and freezing them, you can use only the amount you need.

Alternatively, it is convenient to wrap it in plastic wrap, flatten it, and use chopsticks to mark the amount you want to use, so you can fold it and use it.

Freeze as quickly as possible

If freezing takes too long, the cells in the meat will be destroyed, and drips will appear when thawing, reducing the taste.

You can reduce the temperature quickly by lowering the temperature setting of the freezer and placing it on a metal tray with high thermal conductivity.
Aluminum in particular has high thermal conductivity, so it can be cooled down in a short time.

If it is in a lump state, the temperature at the center will not drop easily, so if you flatten it into a thin layer of about 1.5 cm, you can freeze it quickly.
　
In this way, by properly freezing food, you can preserve it without losing quality.

Another option is to cook it into minced meat and freeze it.

Preparing the meat, such as seasoning and heating, allows the moisture inside the meat to escape, making it less susceptible to damage from freezing.

Cooking has the advantage of extending the shelf life by about a week compared to freezing raw food.

I will show you how to make a simple soboro.

Stir-fry minced meat with chopped onions, carrots, and green peppers, let it cool, then divide into easy-to-use portions and freeze.
Seasoning well with salt and pepper will help draw out more moisture and preserve the flavor.

If you make minced meat and freeze it, you can use it in a variety of dishes.

Omelette rice, fried rice, omelets, gratin, croquettes, meat spaghetti, mapo tofu, mapo eggplant, minced rice, etc.

It's convenient to make it in advance, so please try it.

Tip 2: How to defrost frozen ground meat

It is just as important to properly thaw food as it is to freeze it properly.
The recommended way to thaw frozen ground meat is to thaw it in the microwave or in the refrigerator.

microwave thawing

Remove the plastic wrap, place the bare ground meat on a paper towel, and thaw it in the microwave.

Heat for about 2 minutes per 100g in defrost mode or low mode of 150-200W.

It can be defrosted quickly, so it's recommended when you don't have much time.
However, microwave ovens cannot heat the food consistently, so some parts may overcook.

Bacteria will then multiply in areas where the temperature rises, creating a risk of food poisoning.
Therefore, if you defrost food in the microwave, it is best to cook it immediately.

Thawing in the refrigerator

Remove from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator.

The temperature inside the refrigerator is stable at a low temperature of 2 to 5 degrees Celsius, which prevents bacterial growth and allows meat to thaw while minimizing deterioration of meat quality.

The quality of thawed meat can be maintained for a long time, so it can be stored for 1 to 2 days.

This is the easiest and safest way to thaw, but it takes time. Not suitable when you are in a hurry or don't have time.
　
Defrosting in the refrigerator is best if you have time, and defrosting in the microwave is best if you don't have time.

Regardless of the unzipping method, there are some points to keep in mind when unzipping.

That is, do not refreeze ground meat once it has been defrosted.
If you refreeze thawed ground meat, it will lose its freshness and quality, so be sure to use it up once it is thawed.

Also, ground meat can be used more deliciously if it is partially thawed rather than completely thawed.
Cooking while partially defrosted preserves freshness and prevents fat from melting.

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Tip 3: Recommended recipes that make good use of frozen ground meat

In order to enjoy frozen minced meat, it is important not only to pay attention to the freezing and thawing methods, but also to the cooking method.

There are many dishes that use minced meat, but here are some recommended recipes.

Minced Takana

[Materials] Pickled mustard greens, minced pork

Heat sesame oil in a frying pan, add minced meat and chopped mustard greens, add salt, pepper, and mirin, and stir-fry well.
Stir-fry until the water evaporates and it's done. It goes well with rice and is also useful as a furikake.

hamburger

[Ingredients] Minced pork, onion, egg, milk, bread crumbs

Put the breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl, add the minced meat, chopped onions, eggs, and stock mix and mix well.
Roll it into an easy-to-eat size, remove the air, shape it into a straw bag, and fry it in a hot frying pan. Turn the heat to medium, and when the surface turns dark brown, flip it over and cook the other side.

When you insert a toothpick into the meat and the clear juices come out, it's done. Add your favorite sauce, such as ponzu sauce or demi-glace sauce.

Chinese cabbage flower shumai

[Ingredients] Chinese cabbage, ground pork, green onions, shiitake mushrooms, scallops, ginger needles

Place the Chinese cabbage leaves in a heat-resistant container and heat them in the microwave. Once cooked, spread them one by one in a colander to lightly drain the moisture.
Add minced meat, chopped green onions, shiitake mushrooms, loosened scallops, stock, sesame oil, sake, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix well.

Wrap the mixed ingredients in Chinese cabbage like you would make shumai. Steam it using a steamer or microwave, and once it's cooked through, it's done.
It's delicious when you put ginger needles on top and add vinegar soy sauce or chili oil.

chicken meatballs

[Ingredients] Minced chicken, green onions, eggs, potato starch

Mix the chopped green onions and minced meat well, then add potato starch, salt and pepper, and sake.
Roll into bite-sized pieces, add to boiling water, and boil for about 5 minutes.
Once boiled, enjoy with your favorite seasonings such as ponzu sauce, ankake, or ketchup.

meat sauce

[Ingredients] Minced meat, onions, carrots, mushrooms (shiitake), cut tomatoes

Heat oil in a frying pan and fry minced meat, chopped onions, carrots, and mushrooms.

Season with salt and pepper, and when it's cooked through, add the cut tomatoes, season with ketchup, sauce, consommé, and sugar, and evaporate the moisture over low heat.

It can be used as a sauce for pasta, omelet rice, gratin, etc.

dry curry

[Ingredients] Minced meat, carrots, onions, pumpkin, eggplant, and other vegetables of your choice, garlic, whole tomatoes

Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the garlic. When the aroma comes out, add the minced meat and chopped vegetables and stir-fry well.

Add salt and pepper, and when the heat goes through, add the whole tomatoes, consommé, and bay leaf to taste.

Once the water has evaporated a little, add the curry powder, and once the water has evaporated, turn off the heat and it's done.

Conclusion

Minced meat is a useful meat that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Even if you end up buying too much, you can still use it without sacrificing quality by storing it in the freezer and thawing it properly.

Why not try making lots of delicious dishes by making good use of minced meat?

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