There are few things in this world that can compare to a lamb steak or a lamb stew that is cooked to perfection. The sheer joy of biting into the juicy meat gives an elation that is hard to replicate.
If you are a fan of lamb, then you must have come across this dilemma if freezing the lamb meat is going to affect its quality or not.
The predicament here is that you want to eat lamb but going every day to the butchers’ shop to get a fresh cut is impractical. So, you want to store the meat in a freezer, take it out and thaw it whenever you are craving a lamb dish.
So does freezing lamb affect the quality of the meat?
Freezing lamb meat will not change the taste or quality as long as it is frozen quickly. Freezing meat slowly by placing it in the freezer can change the meat’s texture and flavor. However, freezing meat quickly will lessen the negative effects of freezing.
Meat can be frozen quickly by placing it in a large bowl filled with ice cubes and salt or by placing the meat in a bowl or cooler of dry ice. Once frozen, whole pieces of lamb can be stored for up to 9 months in the freezer while ground lamb can be stored for up to 4 months.
Let’s cover how to properly freeze lamb so that you can have fresh, good tasting lamb in the future without having to get a fresh cut from the butcher.
How To Freeze Lamb
Most people assume that meat can be placed into the freezer and it will thaw completely normal. However, you may have noticed that sometimes the meat will be mushier or slimier depending on how long it was frozen and how it was stored.
So let’s cover what happens to meat when you freeze it to understand how to correctly freeze meat.
What Happens To Lamb Meat When Freezing It
To fully understand if freezing is going to affect the quality of lamb meat or not you have to understand what happens to meat when you freeze it.
Meat has a lot of moisture or water content in it. When you freeze the meat that moisture or water content freezes as well and forms ice crystals within the meat.
These ice crystals can damage the membranes of the cells that the meat is comprised of and cause the meat to lose structural integrity. The moisture in the meat is always going to form ice crystals when you freeze it but if you freeze the meat slowly then these crystals are going to be bigger and cause more damage.
Freezing meat slowly by placing it directly into the freezer will lead to a mushier or slimier meat when thawed at a future date.
So, the best way to freeze meat is in a manner that does not give you big ice crystals. You can do this by flash freezing the meat or freezing the meat quickly.
How To Flash Freeze Lamb To Preserve Quality
Flash freezing, or quickly freezing, lamb meat is a simple and crucial step to ensuring that the lamb freshness and quality is preserved.
Flash Freezing Lamb Meat With Ice Cubes
The easiest way to quickly freeze lamb meat is to use ice cubes, a vacuum sealer (or resealable bag) and a large container:
- First place the lamb into a vacuum sealed bag
- You can also use a resealable bag as long as all the air is removed before closing the bag
- Next place the sealed lamb into a large bowl
- Fill the bowl with ice so that all sides of the lamb are covered
- Next pour in water so that the lamb is completely submerged
- Mix in salt into the ice water so that the temperature drops to 27 °F (−3 °C) after about 30 minutes
- Add more ice and salt if the temperature does not reach 27 °F (−3 °C)
After about 30 minutes the lamb should be mostly frozen. Larger pieces of lamb will take longer to freeze whereas ground lamb may take as little as 30 minutes to be completely frozen.
Dry off the wrapped lamb with a towel before placing it in the freezer.
You can write the expiration date on the bag which should be about 4 months for ground lamb and up to 9 months for whole pieces or cuts of lamb.
How Long Lamb Lasts In The Freezer
When properly stored this is how long lamb will last in the freezer:
| Lamb Cut | Freezer Storage Time |
| Ground Lamb | 3 – 4 months |
| Lamb Cuts (lamb chops, roasts, steaks) | 6 – 9 months |
Freezing food 0° F (-18° C) will keep it safe to consume indefinitely but the quality and flavor of the food will degrade over time so these freezer storage times are for quality only.
The full FDA refrigerator and freezer storage chart provides storage guidelines for all cuts of meat including lamb.
Final Thoughts
Flash freezing lamb is the best way to preserve lamb for a future meal without going to the butcher and getting a fresh cut.
Properly freezing lamb can enhance the flavor and quality of the lamb. In fact, the lamb can become more tender and flavorful when it is frozen the right way over a short period of time before being consumed.
The science behind this is that when the lamb meat is frozen the calpains within it activate and to some extent tenderize the meat. In addition to that, some level of oxidation also takes place which brings out extra flavor from the meat.
So, you might get a better-quality lamb after you freeze it. But keep in mind that freezing it the right way is crucial here and the longer the lamb stays in the freezer then the less flavorful it will be when thawed out.
Next time you have extra lamb, make sure to flash freeze it before placing it in the freezer. Future you will thank you for the properly frozen and delicious lamb.
