How to Package & Freeze Bulk Meat

Who doesn’t love the ideal of saving money from buying in bulk? Many of us love this idea but are still hesitant when it comes to perishable food products, and for good reason! We tend to ask ourselves “This is a great price but… we will be able to eat it all before it expires? Or will we be throwing it away?” None of us wish to waste food, and if you don’t have a large family, you may be wondering why you would buy these items in in bulk.

But I have good news for you, none of it has to go to waste! If you buy meat in bulk there is a fool-proof way to easily store and freeze this meat for many months without any concern of it spoiling or getting that dreaded freezer-burn. In this post I will walk through a step-by-step process for properly wrapping and storing bulk meat.

Why we Started Buying in Bulk

Fun fact, I am actually a vegetarian. My husband, Daniel, is quite the carnivore, and I will admit that he eats enough meat for the both of us. I still prep and cook meat for him, although I do not eat it myself. When I saw bulk chicken on sale for $1.99 a pound, I realized how much we could save, so we stocked up and immediately implemented this meat wrapping and storing process.

Where we Learned this Method

This fool-proof method of wrapping meat came from 2 different friends, one that is a professional butcher, and another that is a seasoned hunter. Both of these people use this package method for their own food storage.

Since implementing this in our own home, we have been able to easily store 6-12 months of meat in our own freezer. How does that sound to you?

Perks of Buying Meat in Bulk

You can save a lot of money
Less dreaded trips to the grocery store
Great for large families and big meat eaters
Useful in preparation for bad weather
Precaution for any potential food shortages

As you can see, buying meat in bulk has many perks. If you purchase your meat at a discount, you can not only save money, but save a lot of potential hassle as well. It’s a win-win!

Concerns with Buying Bulk Meat

Where will we store it?
How will we eat it all?
Will it go bad?

All of these concerns can be solved through our meat packing and freezing method. You will need some freezer space, which is an easy solution if you don’t already keep much in the freezer. Other storage alternatives are to purchase a separate freezer for food storage. This can come in handy for more than just meat, such as extra frozen fruits and vegetables. Check your local listings for a well-priced used freezer to keep your bulk items in.

How Long Can I Freeze Bulk Meat?

Most meat can be kept in the freezer for almost a year if properly stored. Of course, this can all depend on the type of meat you are storing, as well as how long you are comfortable storing it for.

Most cut raw meat can be safely frozen and stored for up to a year. Ground or cooked meat, on the other hand, has a shorter freezer life. For more details on food safety for poultry, visit the USDA site here. For other meats, see the UDSA page here.

How to Wrap & Freeze Bulk Meat

We always use this very same method described below to store both bulk chicken and deer meat. It works like a dream. No freezer burn and no leaking packages.

Supplies Needed

Freezer Paper
Plastic Wrap
Freezer Tape
Scissors
Permanent Marker
Gallon freezer bags (or larger)
Counter/table space
Freezer space

For the plastic wrap, we highly recommend purchasing one with a slid cutter, this will help significantly with your wrapping process. (Often called Saran Wrap after the name brand plastic wrap, plastic wrap is also called: food wrap, cling wrap, or freezer wrap, these variations are basically the same, any of which will work). Gallon freezer bags are the easiest to find, but 2-3 gallon bags tend to work best.

Bulk Meat Wrapping Steps

Step 1:

Unroll a large piece of plastic wrap. Place the meat in the center and make sure there is enough plastic to cover the meat on all sides, with room to fold over.

Step 2:

Cut the plastic wrap and tightly fold over the meat, front and back, pushing out all of the air that you can. Then fold in both sides, pushing out the air as you go. The trick here is to get out as much air as possible!

Step 3: Unroll a large piece of freezer paper. Place the plastic wrapped meat in the center and make sure there is enough excess paper (approximately 4 inches on each side, you want to be able to fold and roll it a few times).

Step 4: Cut the freezer paper and line up both edges of the paper.

Step 5: Make a 1-to-2-inch fold at the top of the paper, creasing the two edges together. Roll the paper all the way down until tight. Then crease the entire length of paper.

Step 6: Starting on one end, fold 1/3 of the paper inwards & crease, on both sides. Push any air out, tucking the paper under. Repeat on the second side.