Ensuring the safety of your meat is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses and enjoying delicious meals. Improperly stored meat can lead to bacteria growth and potentially dangerous conditions like salmonella, E. coli, and campylobacter, causing unpleasant symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. To help you avoid these issues, supermarket giant Morrisons has provided valuable advice on how to store your meat safely.
Their food waste expert, Fiona Sullivan, shares practical tips to keep your meat fresh and minimize waste. Let’s explore her recommendations for storing chicken, bacon, and mince:
Chicken:
When storing raw chicken, it’s essential to keep it refrigerated and covered until you’re ready to use it. Fiona recommends storing it in the meat drawer or at the bottom of your fridge, where temperatures are typically the coldest. If you’re not planning to consume the entire pack before the ‘use by’ date, you can safely freeze it. You can freeze it in its original packaging or, to prevent freezer burn, consider placing it in an airtight container. Remember to defrost the chicken thoroughly in the fridge before cooking and use it on the same day.
Bacon:
Similar to chicken, bacon should also be kept in the coldest part of your fridge. Fiona advises storing it in the meat drawer or at the bottom of your fridge. Freezing bacon is also a convenient option. You can freeze it in its original packaging or, to minimize freezer burn, place it in an airtight container. When ready to use, defrost it thoroughly in the fridge before cooking.
Mince:
Fiona emphasizes the importance of refrigerating and covering mince until you’re ready to cook it. Store it in the meat drawer or at the bottom of your fridge, where the temperature is consistently cold. If you’re not planning to use the whole pack before the ‘use by’ date, you can freeze it. To prevent freezer burn, consider freezing the mince in its packaging or transferring it to an airtight container. Ensure it’s completely defrosted in the refrigerator before using it and cook it on the same day.
By following these simple storage tips from Morrisons’ food waste expert, you can keep your meat fresh, prevent foodborne illness, and reduce food waste. Remember, proper storage is key to enjoying delicious and safe meals.
