Can You Freeze Deli Lunch Meat?

On Aug 26, 2022

How to Freeze Food

Produce
Meat and Poultry
Baked Goods
Leftovers
Staple Ingredients

Instructions

Label the freezer bag with a sharpie marker to indicate what will be in the bag and how many.
Place the lunch meat into the freezer bag and lay flat
Squeeze as much air as possible from the bag.
Seal the bag.
Place the bag of lunch meat into the freezer and lay flat so that they will freeze flat.

If cryovac-packaged meat is kept in the refrigerator, then it is good for up to two weeks. Frozen cryovac-packaged meat remains good for up to a year. Cryovac packaging is a way of vacuum sealing meat to keep harmful bacteria out and to extend the shelf life of the meat by keeping it fresh longer. Cryovac equipment can be purchased for both commercial and home use.

Things You’ll Need

Plastic storage container with airtight lid
Paper towel
Plastic freezer bag (optional)
Freezer or masking tape

How long can you freeze deli meat?

Deli meat can be frozen for up to two months as long as it’s prepared and wrapped properly to preserve the texture and moisture content. We’ll walk you through the steps here. You’d never guess these foods are also freezer-safe.

You can store most lunch meat in the freezer for up to two months. After that, the texture and flavor will probably deteriorate. Cured meats will still be tasty for up to three months. Here’s a look at how long food will last in the freezer.

Wrapping the package in an outer layer—like a plastic grocery bag or aluminum foil— will help reduce freezer burn. Sliced meat from the butcher counter, or meat from an opened package, needs to be wrapped. Lay individual slices on pieces of wax paper or even paper towels, and freeze stacked in a plastic bag.

Before using, pat the defrosted meat with a paper towel to remove any excess water. You can stash the meat in the fridge for about three to four days.

Pre-packaged meat is the simplest: if the package is unopened, just toss it directly into the freezer . Wrapping the package in an outer layer—like a plastic grocery bag or aluminum foil—will help reduce freezer burn. Sliced meat from the butcher counter, or meat from an opened package, needs to be wrapped.

Large hunks of meat can simply be wrapped in plastic wrap; ideally, use a few layers and pop the bundle into a thicker freezer bag. Again, press as much air out of the wrapping as possible before freezing. Make sure to label the wrapper with the contents and the frozen-on date!

Freezing roasted turkey, ham, chicken and other deli meats is still possible, but the meat may be slightly wet upon defrosting. (Tips on that below!) You can freeze lunch meat in a large piece or in slices. For the best results, we suggest eating meat as soon as possible after freezing.

How long can you keep deli meat in the freezer?

While it’s generally recommended to eat refrigerated fresh deli meat within a week of opening, the freezer’s low temperature prevents the growth of bacteria — and gives you a longer window to eat your deli meat. While some sites claim that unopened, pre-packaged deli meat can last for 6 months, the FDA recommends eating both unopened …

Wrap the individual slices of your lunch meat in wax paper, then place in freezer bag — be sure to squeeze all the air out to avoid freezer burn. Again, make sure you write the storage date on the freezer bag.

If you have the time, you can move your cold cuts to the refrigerator and leave overnight, or until completely thawed. Be sure to consume your lunch meat within 2 to 3 days of defrosting.

There’s no need to take your cold cuts out of the packaging : the airtight, vacuum seal will actually allow you to keep your protein in the freezer from experiencing freezer burn. But for a little extra protection, place the package in a freezer safe container or wrap in aluminum foil.

However, these cold cuts have a notoriously short shelf life. And while many people don’t think to do it, you can actually extend your deli meat’s shelf life by putting it in the freezer.

How to freeze deli meat?

Sliced meats purchased at the deli counter, as well as packaged deli meat that’s been opened, requires a bit more attention to preserve its texture and control moisture. Lay individual slices on wax paper, then stack the slices and place in an airtight freezer bag, squeezing out as much air as possible. To add more protection against freezer burn, add a second freezer bag. Again, label, date and freeze for up to two months. If you purchase a large piece of meat from the deli counter, it can be wrapped in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by an airtight freezer bag, and frozen for up to two months.

How to Use Previously Frozen Deli Meat. Once defrosted, deli meat should be enjoyed within three days. Thawed meat may be a bit moist, but you can simply pat it dry with a paper towel before making sandwiches.

Lauren Salkeld. April 24, 2020. Deli meat, also known as lunch meat, sandwich meat and cold cuts, has many wonderful qualities, but a long shelf life simply isn’t one of them. Whether you buy yours from the deli counter or in vacuum-sealed packages, these sandwich essentials, including turkey, chicken, ham, bologna and roast beef, …

For an extra layer of protection against freezer burn, wrap the sealed package in an airtight freezer bag or aluminum foil, squeezing out as much air as possible, then label, date and freeze for up to two months. Unopened packages of cured meat, such as salami or pepperoni, will keep for as long as three months. 4526738.jpg.

If you’re in a hurry and the deli meat is well sealed in an airtight freezer bag, you can place the bag in a bowl of cold water to defrost, making sure to change the water often, so it stays cold. Homemade meats can be defrosted in the microwave, but then need to be enjoyed right away.

If you cook a turkey, chicken or ham for homemade sandwich supplies, these can be frozen as well. Be sure to let the meat cool completely before wrapping and freezing.

While proper wrapping and defrosting should protect the taste and texture, if you find your deli meat lacking, try using it in cooked dishes, such as quesadillas, quiches, gratins, casseroles, stromboli or pizza —a little heat, seasoning and the flavor of other ingredients will bring those slices right back to life!

How long does lunch meat last in the refrigerator?

The preservatives included in them, as we discussed in the previous section, help to keep the lunch meat fresh for around 5 days once it has been opened and stored correctly in a refrigerator. A vacuum sealed pack that has not been opened can keep for up to 15 days in the refrigerator.

If your packet of deli meat has already been opened and exposed to air, then provided it is packaged back up and frozen correctly, it can keep for up to 3 months, if you have a totally unopened vacuum sealed packet of deli meat then this can be frozen for up to 6 months and still be safe to eat .

A ziplock bag would work well for this. As it is already open, it might be a good idea to place some wax paper, parchment, or baking paper in between each slice so that it can be defrosted a little easier. We skip this step if our meat is unopened, though, so that we are not unnecessarily exposing it to air.

Lunch meat (or whatever other names you call it) are thin cuts of cooked meat. They are left to go cold and then sliced up ready for use in subs, sandwiches, paninis, and bagels. If you get them from the deli counter, the deli worker will package them up for you.

We recommend moving your meat to the refrigerator at least 24 hours before eating it. This will ensure that it has adequate time to defrost thoroughly, ensuring it is safe to be consumed. If you have just taken out a slice or two, then it may take less time to defrost, so keep checking it.

If you are using the lunch meat that has already been opened, you can take out the amount you need as the parchment paper will have kept them separate, keeping the rest in the freezer to be used again. If you want the whole lot, take it all out.

That being said, provided they are tightly wrapped and placed in two ziplock bags for extra protection, they should still be fine.