AFTER UPGRADING YOUR SEALER: Tips for Removing Freeze Burn and Repackaging Game
Freezer burn is dehydration and oxidation due to air reaching the food. It causes discolored dry patches to form on meat. The texture is off, so is the flavor. Poorly sealed game is subject to freezer burn. The longer poorly sealed game sits in the freezer, the worse freezer burn gets.
When you upgrade your sealer, you can indeed repackage your game. A common word of caution is you never want to refreeze thawed meat. The reason: When meat thaws, it loses juices. If you thaw, then refreeze, then thaw again, it loses more moisture versus thawing once. However, here are some tips to avoid this and help eliminate freezer burn:
1. Do not completely thaw your game. Instead let it sit in the fridge overnight or for a day, long enough to be able to trim off slivers of freezer burn with a filet knife.
2. Looks for gray, discolored patches and trim off a very thin layer. If the freezer burn is deep, you may need to trim deeper. Discard freezer-burnt slivers.
3. Once freezer-burnt meat has been trimmed, immediately seal using one of MEAT!s commercial-grade sealers and freeze. This will extend the life of your game without you having to worry about freezer burn.
Game is good for 2 years or longer if properly sealed and frozen. Remember: When trimming freezer burn, only thaw enough to trim. The idea here is you won't have the same moisture loss if the meat remain mostly frozen during freezer-burn removal and repackaging.