Pork Freezer Chart and Freezing Information

Pork Cuts - Fresh

  Refrigerator  

  Freezer

Roasts3 to 5 days4 to 8 months
Chops3 to 5 days3 to 4 months
Ground pork1 to 2 days3 to 4 months
Sausage1 to 2 days1 to 2 months

 

Pork Cuts - Processed

 Refrigerator 

  Freezer

Bacon7 days*1 month
Bacon bits7 days3 months
Frankfurters7 days*1 to 2 months
Ham (half)3 to 5 days1 to 2 months
Luncheon meats3 to 5 days*1 to 2 months
Sausage (smoked)7 days1 to 2 months

 

Cooked Pork

Refrigerator 

  Freezer

Cooked pork3 to 4 days2 to 3 months

The times shown above are for the maximum time for Best Flavor.  These cuts of pork will be edible for a much longer time, but the quality and taste will diminish over time.

How much freezer space will you need?

One cubic foot of freezer space will hold approximately
30 lbs. to 32 lbs. of Pork.

Freezing Fresh Cut Hogs at Home

The best way to freeze fresh cut and wrapped pork at home is by flash freezing.
Flash Freezing can be done at -15 °F on your home freezer upon some prior preparation.
Most chest-style freezer have the capability of reaching -15 °F,
but some upright freezers may not.

  • Set your freezer's control to its coldest setting several hours before using it as a flash freezer (use a freezer thermometer to check the temperature), make sure it is at least -15 °F.

  • Shift the food that is already in the freezer to one side;  try to leave about 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 2 to 3 lbs. of pork.

  • *[For the best and fastest freezing, it is best to use a large, empty chest freezer to allow for maximum air circulation.]

  • Chill pork before you freeze it to make it easier to cut and package, and to allow quicker freezing.  *The faster the pork freezes, the better it will taste when cooked!

  • Wrap the pork cuts securely in high quality freezer paper to prevent freezer burn and to avoid contaminating one meat with the odors of another.  Click here for a diagram on how to properly wrap meat for the freezer.

  • To allow quicker freezing, try and arrange the packages in the freezer so they are not touching any other packages.  The more air circulating around the packages, the quicker the pork will freeze.

  • *[You can set the packages of pork in the freezer on metal wire shelving - that is often used in kitchen cabinets - to allow the most air circulation.]


    Following the above tips should lead to the longest lasting,  best tasting Pork possible!

If you have had pork processed at Jackson Frozen Food Locker, e-mail us and we will e-mail you a customized chart detailing the recommended length of time each of the beef cuts freezer maximums!

Cooking Frozen Pork

Pork may be cooked frozen or defrosted. Defrosted pork should be cooked as a fresh cut; but allow additional cooking time. Frozen roasts require 1/3 to 1/2 more time for cooking. Cooking time for frozen steaks and patties varies according to surface area, thickness, and broiling temperature. Frozen cuts should be broiled farther from the heat so they do not brown too quickly. To braise frozen pot roasts, allow approximately the same cooking time as for defrosted cuts.

Defrosting Pork

Frozen pork my be defrosted before or during cooking. It should be defrosted in the original wrapping in the refrigerator. Defrosting meat at room temperature is not a recommended procedure. The following is a timetable for defrosting frozen pork in a refrigerator:


Large roast 4-7 hours (per pound)
Small roast 3-5 hours (per pound)
Steak, one-inch thick 12-14 hours

More freezer tips covering freezer burn, how to freeze meat, wrapping, etc.
Read further for some excellent freezer tips!
What to do if your freezer quits or the power goes out.
Refreezing Food?  Is it safe?
Freezer checklist.  Before you buy a freezer, there are some features you should know about.
ConsumersRechearch. Reviews of the best freezers on the market!
Home Freezers. The full story.  EVERYTHING you need to know about freezers.  Such as only 2 manufacturers make almost ALL the freezers sold in the US!
How to wrap meat from the freezer.  From Ask The Meatman.
Read more about the Commercial Grade freezer paper we offer for sale!

NOW AVAILABLE - Ask The Meatman's Own
"How To Process Pork" Video!!

1 Hour & 12 Minutes of Learning How To:

  • Make The Primal Pork Cuts

  • Make Sub-Primal  Pork Cuts

  • Make Retail  Pork Cuts

  • Freezer Wrap Pork Correctly

  • Sharpen Your Knife Correctly

  • Use A Steel Correctly

Notebook Size Meat Charts

  • Be prepared and knowledgeable the next time you're at    
    the Grocery Store Meat Department!

  • A Handy Tool for Deciding How to Cook the Different
     Pork Cuts!

  • These Charts Are A Handy Pork Cutting
    Reference Chart!

  •     A Great Visual Aid to Cutting Pork! 

Purchase A Set of 5 Notebook Size Meat Charts For ONLY $7.00 - shipped FREE!


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Last Updated - Friday, October 09, 2009 03:31 PM