Here’s some helpful tips for keeping your pork as fresh as possible:
- When shopping, try to pick up perishable items (such as pork) last.
- If there’s likely to be an extended delay between the shops and returning home, take along an insulated container to keep the meat cold.
- Ensure that you place your pork in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible upon returning home.
- If the pork is loose wrapped, place on a plate covered with plastic food wrap or in a sealed container lined with a layer of paper towel.
- Store pork in the coolest part of the fridge.
Storage Life
- Some pork will be sold with a ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date. Follow these dates where provided.
- Fresh pork should smell fresh and have a sweet aroma – not overly ‘meaty’.
- Fresh pork will be pink or pale in colour and feel firm – not slimy or greying in colour.
Freezing
- Always use a freezer bag or airtight container prior to freezing, removing as much air as possible.
- If storing steak, chops or multiple large items, place food safe plastic between layers or wrap individually in separate bags. This makes defrosting easier and will prevent freezer burn.
- Pork can be kept for up to 6 months depending on how it’s wrapped and stored.
- Frozen pork should be thawed before use
- Whenever possible, slow-thaw pork in the fridge for 24-48 hours prior to cooking.
- Never thaw meat in the sun or warm water. If urgent thawing is required, microwave defrosting is the safest method.