What to Do With Leftover Meat?

You had to host a party, and now when the party is over, you have tons of leftover food. Whether it is cooked food or raw food items, storing things for the future can be difficult. It is especially tricky when it comes to raw meat. If you don’t keep meat at a fixed temperature, it can spoil fast. Continue reading to learn valuable tips on how to increase the shelf life of raw and cooked meat. 

Refrigerate: One of the most fundamental ways to keep meat fresh for longer is to keep the meat at a controlled temperature. Be it raw food or cooked, keeping meat at a lower temperature in the refrigerator will most definitely keep it fresh for a long time. Before you stake the raw meat inside the freezer, be sure to separate different types of meat to avoid contamination. If possible, slice up the meat into chunks and put them in containers before placing them inside the freezer. 

Meat Curing: Curing meat is the process of salting the meat to make it last longer. Curing is an old traditional process of preserving meat for a long. Be sure to purchase a meat cure mix and follow the instructions step by step. Most people think that it takes tremendous effort to cure meat, but in reality, one can skillfully cure meat at home if he follows the techniques. Depending on the size and type of meat, it may take a few days to four weeks to completely cure meat. Typically, meat loses 35% of its weight during the curing process. All you need to do is check the weight before and after to make sure the process is complete. Curing meat allows you to make your own sausages, salaries, and more at home. 

Distribute: Suppose you are leaving the town and have to finish all the food prepared. You can give away your food to your guests in such a case. They will be more than happy to take home a delicious home-cooked meal. You may also donate the leftover food to a local charity that feeds the poor and needy. The goal is not to waste perfectly good food. Studies show that tons of food daily goes to waste in America, and this food emits foul gas, which is one of the primary contributors to global warming. Therefore, when you save food without wastage, you feed the hungry and also protect the environment.

Turn Them Into Something New: Suppose you have meat leftover from various dishes. You don’t really want to pack them in separate containers and put them in the fridge. Instead, you can turn them into a new dish altogether. Depending on the type of meat you have left on the table, you can follow various curry recipes and make a delicious new dish. It is all about making lemonade out of lemons. 

Dehydrate Meat: Most people don’t know this, but dehydration helps increase the shelf life of meat. A dehydrator dries out the moist meat, allowing it to stay fresh for longer. One can even dehydrate fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh for an extended period. Once the meat is dehydrated, you can vacuum pack them and safely store them in containers for future use. For example, if you love bacon, you can follow the bacon recipe to make bacon at home using the dehydrator.