How to store and freeze ice cream sandwiches
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Save time by prepping your butcher’s meat or freezing leftovers
The meat truck is a timeless favourite, the perfect piece for family gatherings and cosy get-togethers. It’s also a great meal to prep – or make a double recipe – and freeze so it’s ready to go for an active weekend. The beef mixture can be combined, shaped into a bun and frozen before baking. You can also bake a meat pie and then freeze the whole to eat later.
Freezer
Although somewhat of a humble dish, ground beef can take a little time to prepare.
If you’ve got a meal to prepare tonight but don’t plan to eat the chop in the morning, you can place the uncooked meat in the fridge overnight. In fact, some chefs think it improves the flavour of the prepared dish. Be sure to firmly seal or cover before freezing. If you want to cook the meat pie ahead of time, make sure it is completely cool before wrapping and placing it in the freezer. The meatcake should be baked and eaten within a day or two.
Freezing
If you are not going to eat the meatloaf the next day, you will need to refrigerate the meatloaf until it is ready to use. Follow the recipe to mix the ingredients and mould into a sauce, then stick very well with a plastic lid and place in an airtight freezer bag. Raw frozen meat should keep in the freezer for up to six months.
One thing to be aware of is whether or not the meat is frozen before it starts cooking, depending on how it was thawed will determine whether or not it is safe to freeze.
According to the USDA, frozen meat that has been thawed in the refrigerator will freeze. If the meat was previously frozen and you are unsure how the meat will be handled, you may want to play it safe and bake a meat pie before freezing. Let it cool to room temperature before wrapping in foil; then place in a sealed plastic bag and store in the fridge for up to six months.
Baked frozen meatloaf
If you’re going to make a frozen raw meatloaf, it’s best to take it out of the fridge and put it in the freezer overnight before thawing. Then bake according to the recipe. If you’re not careful, just use the temperature called for in the recipe, but bake the meatcake 1 1/2 to 2 times longer than called for. Always check with a meat thermometer – read 160 to 165 F.
Once the frozen mince is cooked, remove the packaging and return the oven to the heat. This will take about 1 1/2 hours at 350 F (make sure the center of the meat reads 160 F on the thermometer).
Using Meatloaf Leftovers
If you find yourself with too much breadcrumbs, fret! There are lots of interesting ways to serve this dish. Of course, sandwiches are best, but you could also use leftovers by frying chunks of roasted chilli or mixing it with pasta or rice served with a sauce. Iced coarse salt is a natural filling for snacks that call for ground beef.
And when it comes to veal, think small! Small squares of meatloaf make a great cold meal with a mustard cocktail in bread and on top with sliced olives or condiments.
For a hot meal, toast cocktail bread first, top with horseradish sauce, meatloaf and grated cheese. Then quickly reheat in a hot oven.
Making the best meal
Meatloaf is one of those recipes that may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s also the type of recipe that can be bland or dry unless certain ingredients are added and the oven temperature and time are right. With some cooking tips and tricks, making mince is as easy as the food itself.
There are a myriad of recipes made with pork, from standard to gourmet and seafood to vegetarian. You may be pleasantly surprised when you substitute other typical ground beef foods. Just think of your favourite combinations of standard dishes and let your imagination take control, experimenting with different fillings, herbs and seasonings to make your dinner table more stellar.
