Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef? Freezing Guide

Wagyu beef is a premium beef that’s unlike other beef. This beef is known for its high fat content in the meat. If you enjoy eating premium beef, wagyu is probably one type of beef that’s on your list. To ensure they stay at their best quality, you’ll need to store them properly. As for storage, would freezing wagyu beef be an option?

Can you freeze wagyu beef? Yes, you can freeze wagyu beef. When compared to other meat, wagyu beef has a very high-fat percentage. This means the quality of the meat will not degrade from freezing. Properly stored, wagyu beef will last for up to 12 months in the freezer.

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Does Wagyu Beef Freeze Well?

Yes, wagyu beef freezes well. This is due to the high-fat content that’s in the meat. Fat freeze quite well in the freezer.

Waygu beef combined with the proper storage container, the beef can last for quite a long time.

If you need to keep fresh for a long time, you should consider vacuum-sealing the beef. This method removes all the air from the bag, which prevents the beef from getting freezer burn.

How to Freeze Wagyu Beef

Freezing wagyu beef is simple but needs to be done properly to ensure it retains its quality.

If you’ve bought wagyu beef from the store, it will likely come individually packaged. This means all you have to do is place them directly into the freezer once you get home.

Wagyu beef is also sold fresh, which is usually for cooking right away. If you do need to store it in the freezer, follow the steps below:

Clean the steak thoroughly with cold running water.
With a clean dry paper towel, gently dap on the beef to remove any excess moisture.
Using a cling wrapper or aluminum foil, wrap around the beef a couple of times.
In a freezer bag or an airtight container, place the wrapped beef into it.
For the freezer bag, press on it to remove any excess air from the bag before sealing it.
If you’ve used an airtight container, check to ensure there are no leaks before sealing the lid on the container tightly.
Label the container or bag with the date of freezing and place it into the freezer.

If you want to keep the wagyu beef in the freezer for a long time, the best method is to vacuum seal it.

Can You Freeze Cooked Wagyu Beef?

Sometimes, after enjoying the delicious wagyu beef, you end up with leftovers. Since this beef isn’t cheap, you have the option of freezing cooked wagyu beef for later.

Proper storage is the key to keeping the cooked wagyu beef tender and full of flavors in the freezer.

Once the cooked beef is cooled, using a dry paper towel, gently press on it to remove any excess moisture and oil. Then using a cling wrapper or aluminum foil, wrap the beef around several times. This will help keep the air from leaking into the container and destroying the beef.

In a freezer bag or an airtight container, place the wrapped wagyu beef in it. Doing so will double insulate the meat and help preserve its quality for a longer time.

If using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air before sealing it tightly. For an airtight container, make sure there are no leaks in the lid before sealing it tight.

Label the storage container with the date of freezing and place them into the freezer. Cooked wagyu beef will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. However, you should try to consume them within a month for the best quality.

How Do You Defrost Wagyu Beef?

Most of the time, when you’ve purchased wagyu beef, it will come vacuum-sealed in an individual package. This is the most common way that it’s packaged and stored before it reaches the store.

Once you’re ready to eat the wagyu beef, remove the entire package of meat from the freezer. Without cutting the plastic wrap, place it onto a plate and into the fridge.

Let it sit in the fridge for about 48 hours for it to completely thaw.

This is the recommended method of thawing to ensure the meat will retain all of its natural juices.

How Long Can You Freeze Wagyu Beef?

Wagyu beef can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. This is only if the meat is properly stored. The best method of storing wagyu beef is using the vacuum sealing method.

If you’ve bought wagyu beef from the grocery store, more than likely, it will come vacuum sealed. All you need to do is place them directly into the freezer once you get home.

Can Frozen Wagyu Beef Go Bad?

Frozen wagyu beef can go bad if it’s either stored for a prolonged period of time in the freezer or it’s left to thaw for too long.

Like any other food, wagyu beef goes bad if it’s stored in the freezer for too long. The average shelf life to keep the meat in the freezer is 12 months. After that time, the beef is still safe to eat, but the quality will deteriorate.

Wagyu beef doesn’t actually go bad if it’s stored in the freezer. The quality of it just deteriorates to the point where it doesn’t taste good anymore.

Besides the freezer, wagyu beef will go bad if it’s left to thaw for too long. The meat should thaw completely in the fridge in about 48 hours. If it’s left to thaw any longer, the chances it will be bad will be greater. The longer it’s left to thaw, a contaminant from bacteria is likely.

As for the thawing at room temperature, you should never do it. Doing so will likely cause bacteria growth on the meat quickly. At room temperature, the meat will not thaw evenly. The outside might thaw completely, while the inside is still frozen. Bacteria usually grow on meat when the temperature is warm. This causes the thawed section to be contaminated with bacteria.

Can You Refreeze Wagyu Beef?

If there’s a change in plan and you need to refreeze wagyu beef, you definitely can. However, you can only refreeze the meat if it has not completely thawed yet.

Once the meat is thawed completely, this raises the risk of bacteria growing on the meat.