freezing deli meats to save money

[mafibisha]

Chip chop ham and pastrami are both on sale this week, and really cheap.

How well would they freeze? We don't use a ton of it, but do use enough that buying in a larger quantity would be a great savings.

TIA.

 

[Nina]

The ham will freeze well. We do it all the time! Not sure on the pastrami.

 

[Alexander]

We freeze ham and turkey all the time. Those deli meats are so processed, I'm sure they would be fine.

 

[punkin]

Pastrami freezes well. I do it all the time.

 

[ilovemk76]

Chip chop ham and pastrami are both on sale this week, and really cheap.

How well would they freeze? We don't use a ton of it, but do use enough that buying in a larger quantity would be a great savings.

TIA.

Lunch meats do not freeze well. To much water added.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I buy the Hormel Naturals packages of deli meat (cheapest option for deli meats for us due to allergies). When they're on sale for $2.50 per package I stock up and stick them in my freezer. When I thaw them they're just as good as when they were fresh. Note that these are vacuum sealed packages that I'm freezing. I don't know if they'd be as good if they weren't.

 

[puffkin]

I got a bunch of Oscar Myer packages of turkey a few months ago during a store promotion. I froze them and have been slowly using them up over the summer. They taste fine once defrosted.

I do notice that they turn quicker though. Once opened we need to use the pack up in about 4-5 days whereas the packs straight from store lasted at least a week or longer.

 

[sydneysmom]

we freeze deli meat all the time and it's just fine. I also freeze cheese slices and shredded cheese bags when they're on sale cheap.... the cheese freezes terrific.

 

[momejay]

We freeze our deli meats all the time and haven't had any problems until my DD thought it might be good to use the microwave to defrost her turkey...not a good idea. I recommend letting the meats defrost in fridge. Make sure package is sealed well and you should have no problem.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We have been doing it for as long as I can remember and that was even back when I was a child, my grandmother would do it.

I would suggest that if it is lunch meat from the actual deli that you buy a box of ziploc bags for the freezer, it does keep a little better in those.

DH loves the lunch meat from the cold section and I just freeze those as is. We even buy the ones for subs that had ALOT of meat and break it down into smaller packages, it is sometimes cheaper at the Commissary.

 

[seashoreCM]

But first separate the slices into groups that are small enough to use completely in a few days or at one meal. Put each group in a separate plastic bag. You do not want to thaw the entire amount in order to use part of it and then refreeze the rest.

Cheese slices also need to be so separated, if they are not individually wrapped.