Can You Freeze Bologna?

Quick Answer : Can You Freeze Bologna?

Yes, it is possible to freeze bologna. It is safe to eat cured meat like bologna, frozen and thawed. However, we suggest preventing exposure to air or moisture when freezing bologna because it can spoil the meat and change its texture and flavor. Generally, bologna is available in round slices cut from a larger cured sausage.

How Do You Freeze Bologna?

Bologna meat has low water content and a dense texture. So, it is one of the easiest meats to freeze. Secondly, it remains in the best condition when frozen. So, let us learn how to freeze bologna.

The best aspect of freezing bologna is that it does not experience textural changes. However, the flavor and texture can change if you freeze the bologna for too long. Alternatively, freezer burn can spoil the meat and make it dry and chewy. So, the crucial part of freezing bologna is preventing freezer burn.

Freezing Unopened Vacuum Packs Of Bologna

Freezing unopened vacuum packs of bologna is the easiest. The package ensures there is no exposure to moisture and air. So, you can directly pop the vacuum-sealed pack directly into the freezer without worrying much. The bologna freezes well.

Freezing Opened Vacuum Packs Of Bologna

You can freeze the opened vacuum packs of bologna in two ways.

If you can reseal the opened packs without air, you can seal the original packaging and place them inside the freezer. You can tie rubber bands and secure the packs to prevent them from opening accidentally.
Alternatively, you can transfer the bologna from the original packaging to another freezer bag. The resealable ziplock bags are the best. However, please ensure expelling excess air from the bags before freezing them.

Freezing Bologna Slices Bought From The Store

If you have bought fresh bologna from the deli counter or the butchery, they will not be available in vacuum-sealed packs. These slices are freshly cut from larger chunks of bologna meat.

Place the slices inside a ziplock bag. Squeeze the bags to remove as much air as possible. Close the zipper almost full, leaving space for a straw. Suck the air out from the bag so that the bag shrinks around the bologna meat. This process ensures against exposure to air. Remove the straw and seal the bag quickly.
Alternatively, you can use a vacuum sealer to remove the air and seal the bag airtight.
We advise freezing each slice separately because they can stick to each other during the freezing process. Follow the procedure discussed above for wrapping each piece. It is advisable to use appropriately-sized freezer bags.
The advantage of freeing individual slices is removing the required meat pieces when consuming them. In addition, you need not defrost the entire stack.
Once you have packed the bologna in airtight packaging, we suggest chilling them in the refrigerator before transferring them to the freezer. The benefit is that the meat is not subject to drastic temperature changes that could lead to freezer burn. We advise pre-chilling all types of meat before freezing them.
We suggest not to place all the meat packets close together. Instead, you can store them in different racks or shelves with space between them to allow excellent air circulation between the gaps. In addition, it allows for maintaining the optimal temperature.

Freezing Cooked Bologna

Cool the meat to room temperature. Packing the meat hot into the freezer bags can cause the bags to melt and affect the bologna’s taste.
Once cold, place the bologna meat in the freezer bag and follow the above procedure to pack it well and seal it.
Label the package and place it inside the freezer to freeze.

How Long Can You Freeze Bologna Meat And Maintain It Fresh?

Bologna can remain frozen for two months if you follow the procedure correctly. The fundamental requirement is wrapping the meat properly to prevent exposure to air and moisture.

So, if you love to eat bologna weekly, you can purchase adequately sliced bologna and freeze them in different packets in the freezer. But, of course, the question arises whether you can consume bologna after two months. The good news is that you can eat freezer-burnt bologna or meat past its date. You can slice and chop the meat into small pieces or shred them for use in casseroles and other oven-baked dishes.

How Do You Defrost Bologna?

You can defrost bologna in two ways.

The simplest and most recommended method is transferring the required slices from the freezer to the fridge. The meat defrosts gradually and takes several hours to defrost thoroughly. The best way is to start the procedure overnight. But, there is an alternative if you forget to initiate the defrosting process overnight.
You can transfer the frozen bologna into an airtight container. Place the container in a water bowl filled with cold water. Please ensure to submerge the meat fully into the water to enable the meat to thaw uniformly. This process is considerably faster than the refrigerator defrosting method. Please check the meat every half an hour to see if it has adequately softened.

On defrosting, you can use the bologna in various recipes. However, if you do not plan to use it immediately, we suggest refrigerating the bologna for four days.

It can be tempting to defrost the bologna quickly in the microwave. But, we never recommend this method because the frozen meat slices can go from the frozen state to sizzling hot within a few seconds.

Can You Refreeze Bologna?

We advise consuming the defrosted bologna within three to four days. Otherwise, there can be bacterial contamination. While the thawed bologna can be moist, you can refreeze it once. Similarly, you can let the unconsumed bologna meat remain in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Bolognese Sauce?

You can freeze Bolognese sauce in ziplock bags in the freezer.