Here’s How to Properly Store Your Meat so it Keeps for Months on End

Wondering how long meat lasts in the freezer? While the short answer is a while, the long answer is that some meats last longer than others. Most meats will last for years as long as they’re frozen, but that doesn’t mean they’ll taste as good. In fact, the longer you store your meats, the more likely they to start losing their flavor.

Steak, for instance, has been known to start losing its flavor after eight months in the freezer, while sausage and ground beef tend to start losing their taste after four months. Poultry, on the other hand, can last up to an entire year and still taste just as juicy. But rather than wondering how long meat will last, the more important question is how you’re storing it.

If you’re a bona fide meat lover who’s looking to either stock up on some big game or find a few new ways to better preserve the choice cuts they already have, there’s never been a better time to invest in a solid meat freezer. But more than just storing your cuts, you’re going to want to make sure they’re properly preserved.

Fortunately, we’ve rounded up everything you need to help keep your meats fresher longer (or forever, really). We’ve even included our favorite mini meat freezer so you can have your steak and eat it too.

Whynter CUF-301BK

BEST MEAT FREEZER

Obviously, in order to store your meat you’re going to want a freezer, and this Whynter model is a great option for the price. Featuring a sleek silver design, a reversible door (which really comes in handy) and a powerful R600a cooling compressor, it’s built to be as quiet and discreet as possible. That said, it’s perfect for storing all different kinds of meat and is small and sleek enough to blend in with most spaces.

Buy: Whynter Meat Freezer $205.00

2. COSTWAY Portable Car Freezer

BEST PORTABLE FREEZER

Thinking of taking a trip? Why not take your meats with you! This Costway portable freezer is small enough to fit in the trunk (or back seat) of your car, but large enough to store all your precious choice cuts. What’s so great about this particular freezer is that it actually contains two different compartments for both refrigerating and freezing. What’s more, it features an expensive temperature range from -4 degrees up to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Natural Freezer Paper

BEST FREEZER PAPER

Now that you have a place to house your meats, you’re going to want to make sure they’re properly stored. This natural freezer paper utilizes a leak-proof poly coating to help keep your cuts from leaking or those utterly delicious juices from seeping through the cracks. Great for covering poultry, beef, venison and more, this handy paper even includes a matte outer side to help you label your respective meats.

4. Reusable Gallon Freezer Bags

BEST REUSABLE BAGS

When you’re looking to either transport or move your slabs of meat, these reusable freezer bags are a must. Sold in packs of six, each one-gallon bag is made from food-grade and eco-friendly PEVA material, meaning you don’t have to worry about them breaking or tearing, and they feature a leak-proof design to help keep all those insatiable juices from spilling out. Best of all, they’re 100% reusable, so you won’t have to worry about running out of freezer bags anytime soon.

5. UltraSource Wild Game Freezer Meat Bags

BEST LARGE FREEZER BAGS

In the market for something slightly bigger? These UltraSource meat bags are made for wild game, meaning they’re really, really sturdy. Made for hunters, these one-pound bags are made with a sturdy two-millimeter-thick packing material to prevent any tears or rips. These babies are industrial strength, so you don’t need to worry about them falling apart on you.

6. Foodsaver FSFSSL2244-000 V2244 Machine

BEST STORAGE VACUUM

When you don’t just want to store your meat, but actually preserve it, these Foodsaver bags are essential. Able to help keep your meats fresh for up to THREE whole years, this vacuum sealer is a great appliance for meat lovers and has been found to keep meats fresh up to five times longer than ordinary storage methods. The only drawback is the fact that these vacuum bags aren’t able to cover that much space, so you’ll need to seal individual pieces instead of whole slabs.