I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.

Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.

I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
to use what I have.

Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
it?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Gary wrote:

> Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> it?

This is one of the reasons why I freeze things flat. You
can section it with a meat cleaver and vac pack the smaller
portions if need be. No thawing. I do this with everything
including stock.

--
Reg

Gary said...

> Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> it?


Saw them in half with a clean sawblade?

Andy

>Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
>portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
>it?

I make my meal plans according to what I will be thawing out. For
example, if I'm making a recipe that calls for 1 lb of ground beef,
and I have a 2 lb package in the freezer, I'll make a double batch, or
I'll make another recipe that calls for 1 lb.

So thaw out 4 lbs of beef, make a 3 lb meatloaf and some burgers.

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:14:00 GMT, Gary > wrote:

>I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
>and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
>to use what I have.

We find that buying in larger "family paks" is the economical way to
go. I always bring it home and separate it into 6oz patties separated
with waxed paper. Great for quick hamburgers on the grill and they
thaw quickly. Make a meat loaf....take out the number of portions
that you need. Three pounds....eight portions.

As for the frozen packs you have now...you might enjoy using this
recipe. It is a make ahead and it is a very versatile mix.

@@@@@ Now You're Cooking! Export Format

Ground Beef-Tomato Sauce

make ahead

6 lb ground round
2 lg onion; chopped
2 green pepper; chopped
3 lb tomato sauce
12 oz tomato paste
2 ts salt
2 ts red pepper; crushed
garlic, basil, oregano; to taste

Cook first three ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium high heat,
stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink; drain.

Return beef mixture to Dutch oven.

Stir in tomato sauces and remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer,
stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool 10
minutes.


Spoon beef mixture in zip plastic freezer bags; seal and freeze up to
2 months.


** Exported from Now You're Cooking! v5.76 **

The Fine Art of Cooking involves personal choice.
Many preferences, ingredients, and procedures
may not be consistent with what you know to be true.

As with any recipe, you may find your personal
intervention will be necessary. Bon Appetit!

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:14:00 GMT, Gary > wrote:

>I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
>pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
>one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
>
>Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
>found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
>have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
>
>I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
>and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
>to use what I have.
>
>Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
>portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
>it?
>
>Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Take out 2 packages and partially thaw. Open one package... take off
enough of the outside thawed part to equal a pound. Repackage and put
the remaining (still frozen) hamburger back in the freezer. Next
time, take out the "remainder" and a new 2 pound package to thaw.
Repeat until you've used up all of your two pound packages.

--
See return address to reply by email

On Feb 11, 8:14�am, Gary > wrote:
> I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. *I package it into 2
> pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. *Two pounds is enough for
> one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
>
> Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
> found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. *So I
> have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
>
> I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
> and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
> to use what I have.
>
> Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> it?
>
> Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Only good advice is for you to cease and desist from buying preground
mystery meat.... because you can't ruin that crap you eat, it was
already ruined when you bought it. The smartest thing you can do is
toss all your collection of slime in the trash and begin all over
again by grinding your own.

In article >,
Gary > wrote:

> I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
> pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
> one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
>
> Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
> found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
> have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
>
> I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
> and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
> to use what I have.
>
> Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> it?
>
> Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Just take out two 2 lb. packages, let it thaw just enough to cut one of
them in half without fully thawing, then stick it back into the freezer
re-wrapped. :-)

I personally package in 8 oz. patties in individual bags. Gives me more
versatility.

Hope this helps?
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
Reg > wrote:

> Gary wrote:
>
> > Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> > portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> > it?
>
> This is one of the reasons why I freeze things flat. You
> can section it with a meat cleaver and vac pack the smaller
> portions if need be. No thawing. I do this with everything
> including stock.

How do you freeze stock flat?

Ziplocks?

That's a good idea.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> Reg > wrote:
>
>>
>>This is one of the reasons why I freeze things flat. You
>>can section it with a meat cleaver and vac pack the smaller
>>portions if need be. No thawing. I do this with everything
>>including stock.
>
> How do you freeze stock flat?
>
> Ziplocks?
>
> That's a good idea.

Yep. Ziplocks.

Just be careful swinging the cleaver

--
Reg

In article >,
Gary > wrote:

> I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
> pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
> one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
>
> Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
> found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
> have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
>
> I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
> and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
> to use what I have.
>
> Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> it?
>
> Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Use 3# for your meatloaf and use the remaining pound to make something
else (meatballs? chili? Hotdish?) and freeze the cooked dish. I
wouldn't refreeze the thawed meat.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller - Winter pic and a snow pic
http://jamlady.eboard.com
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor

Melba's Jammin' wrote on 11 Feb 2007 in rec.food.cooking

> In article >,
> Gary > wrote:
>
> > I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
> > pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
> > one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
> >
> > Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
> > found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
> > have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
> >
> > I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
> > and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
> > to use what I have.
> >
> > Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> > portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> > it?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
>
> Use 3# for your meatloaf and use the remaining pound to make something
> else (meatballs? chili? Hotdish?) and freeze the cooked dish. I
> wouldn't refreeze the thawed meat.

When making meatloaf take out 3-2 lb packages of hamburger and make 2
loves...freezing one of the cooked meatloaf loaves for future use...Having
precooked frozen stuff can come in handy,

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 17:23:08 -0600, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>Use 3# for your meatloaf and use the remaining pound to make something
>else (meatballs? chili? Hotdish?) and freeze the cooked dish. I
>wouldn't refreeze the thawed meat.

Or just take the leftover ground beef and saute it up plain (maybe
with a bit of salt), then freeze it for later use in chili, sloppy
joes, whatever. The added bonus of doing it this way is that you can
make single servings of the stuff.

Jo Anne

In article >,
Gary > wrote:

> I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
> pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
> one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
>
> Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
> found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
> have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
>
> I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
> and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
> to use what I have.
>
> Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
> portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
> it?
>
> Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

This isn't fun or easy, but I've done it a couple of times. Take a
serrated bread knife, or other serrated knife. A hacksaw would work
better. Cut a groove in the meat. Whack it on the edge of a sturdy
kitchen table.

It will break into two pieces.

Thanks to all of you that have made some very creative suggestions.

I'm going out to the store soon to buy the dynamite.

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:14:00 GMT, Gary > wrote:

>I use ground beef for making chili and meatloaf. I package it into 2
>pound packages and freeze it in my freezer. Two pounds is enough for
>one recipe of either of the two items I use it for.
>
>Now I've just bought a new silicone loaf pan for meatloaf and have
>found a more reasonable recipe size is 3 pounds of ground beef. So I
>have inappropriate size packages, at least for the meatloaf.
>
>I suppose I cqn buy more ground beef and package it into 1 pound sizes
>and freeze it, but I have a LOT of frozen ground beef and would prefer
>to use what I have.
>
>Any suggestions for how I can repackage the frozen beef into different
>portion sizes without ruining the beef by defrosting it and refreezing
>it?
>
>Thanks in advance for your suggestions.