Can You Freeze Brisket?

Stocking up on meat for the next BBQ party is not unusual. We often tend to purchase more brisket than we might need, especially as buying it in bulk could be less expensive. Under such circumstances, you need to explore avenues for storing brisket carefully for subsequent use. Therefore, these questions are expected. ‘Can you freeze brisket?’ If so, when should you freezer it, before or after cooking it? This article discusses all aspects concerned with freezing brisket.

Can You Freeze Brisket?

The heartening news is that you can freeze brisket before and after smoking it. However, it is better to take precautions to ensure proper freezing and defrosting. For example, if you cook the brisket before freezing it, it must be reheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe for consumption.

Freezing Brisket Before Smoking It

Smoking brisket consumes a lot of time. So, we recommend keeping most of the meat inside the freezer until you have the required time to prepare it. However, defrosting uncooked brisket also consumes much time. Besides, consuming the frozen brisket within six months is advisable to enjoy its optimal taste.

Freezing Cooked Brisket

Here are some points to note before freezing cooked brisket.

1. On cooking the brisket, you should cool the meat to room temperature before freezing it. Ideally, we advise you to place it on the stovetop and allow cool air to circulate the meat.
2. Freezing the cooked brisket whole is better because it exposes less surface area to the air and helps reduce bacterial contamination. In addition, the slices would look fresher than pre-sliced brisket. However, you can slice the cooked meat before freezing it.
3. Frozen cooked meat should never be exposed to air because it creates comfortable conditions for bacterial contamination. Secondly, an oxygen-free environment is essential for avoiding freezer burn.
4. Freezing the entire brisket requires a lot of space. In addition, it becomes essential to reheat the whole batch together. So, slicing meat before freezing is better because you will not need to defrost the entire batch. In contrast, you can take out the required slices and thaw them.
5. Wrapping the brisket meat well before freezing it is crucial. We advise using a plastic cling wrap about six times larger than the meat to ensure perfect wrapping. Again, the objective is not to expose any part of the brisket meat to air and risk contamination.
6. Double wrap the brisket meat for additional protection before placing it inside the freezer bag. Stick the date label to the bag and squeeze excess air from the bag before sealing the bag properly. Set the brisket to freeze inside the coldest part of the freezer.

How To Freeze Brisket?

Decide whether you wish to freeze cooked or uncooked brisket.

Freeze Cooked Brisket

• Cool the cooked brisket to room temperature.
• Slice the brisket into consumable portions.
• Wrap the brisket slices well to ensure against exposure to air.
• Place it inside the freezer bags, remove excess air, and seal the bags.
• Add the freezing date label on the bags and place them inside the freezer for freezing.

Freeze Uncooked Brisket

• You can wrap the brisket whole or slice it into consumable pieces.
• Double wrap the brisket and place them into resealable freezer bags.
• Remove the air and seal the bags before labeling and setting them to freeze inside the freezer.

How Long Can You Keep The Brisket In Its Frozen State?

The cooked frozen brisket can last comfortably for three months in the freezer. Freezing cooked brisket for more than three months is not advisable because it gets dry. On the other hand, fresh brisket can be frozen for even one year. They remain suitable for consumption anywhere between six to twelve months.

How To Defrost Brisket?

The ideal defrosting method involves transferring the required brisket meat portions from the freezer to the fridge and so slicing it before freezing is advisable to prevent wastage. However, this defrosting process takes 10 to 18 hours to thaw thoroughly. Therefore, we recommend starting the defrosting process overnight if you wish to have the brisket meat ready the following morning.

While it can be tempting to microwave the frozen brisket to expedite the defrosting process, we do not recommend it because it affects its moisture content. Secondly, it is better not to defrost meat on the stovetop because it can turn rancid.

Can You Refreeze Brisket?

Technically, you can refreeze brisket if you have defrosted it in the refrigerator. But brisket is tender meat that can lose its moisture content and become dry. So, we generally do not advise refreezing brisket.

Usually, you might not use the entire brisket batch in a single sitting. Under such circumstances, slicing the meat before freezing is better as it prevents wastage.

At the same time, it is better to know that the frozen slices can become dry faster than the larger pieces. So, we advise you to have plenty of broth on hand when reheating them.

Can You Freeze The Leftover Brisket?

Yes, you can freeze the brisket leftovers. Here are some crucial aspects to know about freezing leftover briskets.

1. It is advisable to cool the cooked brisket in its cooling gravy. It ensures the meat turns tastier when you have it the next day. In addition, this process allows the brisket to stay moist.
2. Once cooled, you can remove the leftovers from the cooled liquid for slicing. We advise placing the slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Please flash freeze the portions for about three hours.
3. Transfer the frozen slices to a resealable freezer bag, remove the air, and seal it. Note the freezing date for convenience. This freezing process ensures the leftover briskets remain fresh for three months.
4. You can use the brisket whenever you need to by removing them from the freezer and reheating them with beef broth. It is better to sauté them in a shallow pan with some liquid to retain sufficient moisture.

Does Freezing Brisket Make It More Tender?

The brisket retains its quality if you follow the detailed instructions and store it correctly in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Brisket With Gravy?

Freezing cooked brisket in its gravy ensures it remains frozen for up to three months, whereas the cooked brisket without sauce lasts for two months.

Can You Freeze BBQ Brisket?

You can freeze BBQ brisket in the same manner described here. However, it is better to note that BBQ brisker freezes well if you wrap the prices tightly in foil and seal them in freezer bags.

Can You Freeze Beef Brisket?

Yes, you can freeze beef brisket with its gravy to last for three months.

Can You Freeze Corned Beef Brisket?

It is possible to freeze cooked and uncooked corned beef brisket. However, the uncooked corn brisket should be consumed within a month as it encourages rancidity. Cooked corn brisket lasts longer for up to two months.

Final Thoughts

Meats can always be frozen for future consumption. Similarly, brisket needs cool temperatures to freeze well. So, we recommend freezing brisket in the coldest part of the freezer to ensure fewer temperature fluctuations.

So, if anyone asks, ‘Can you freeze brisket,’ the answer should be simple. Yes, you can.