Every year when it’s Eid al Adha, the question that surfaces in your mind is “how do you keep the meat preserved for weeks?” The good news is that it’s much simpler than you might think. Eid Meat Preservation There are different methods that you could use to store your meat for weeks, even months, and sometimes years!
There are three ways that would help in all circumstances — freezing in the refrigerator where there is regular access to electricity, cooling in water in case of no electricity, and curing in salt for maximum longevity without any refrigeration.
Freezing the Meat: The Most Efficient Means of Storing Sacrificial Meat during Eid
Freezing can be considered the best means for storing the sacrificial meat during Eid by those families who can afford it.It is recommended that before storing your meat in the freezer, it should be cut into pieces to avoid exposure to the air, which will lead to freezer burn in the end.
The best storage options are freezer bags made of either plastic or aluminum foil. If these aren’t readily available, other options include using airtight containers like plastic and freezer glass jars or sealed cans. The most important thing in all these methods is that there should be no air at all.
Bones must be removed prior to freezing because bones occupy much freezer space and make the freezer work harder at trying to maintain temperature in a heavy area. Boneless meat saves more space and freezes better.
The function of the freezer compartment in a regular fridge is identical for reduced quantities. The truth is that running a half-loaded freezer uses up less energy than when a freezer is empty – yet another reason why Eid meat should be packed into freezers instead of wasting their capacity.
ALSO READ: Punjab Integrates Child Nutrition into MBBS Curriculum
Frozen Meat Storage Duration
The guidelines concerning meat storage during Eid sacrifice are clearly stated below. Fresh meat is stored in the freezer for a period of between four to twelve months based on the type of meat. Mince meat can only be stored for a maximum of three months due to its large surface area which deteriorates its quality faster when stored frozen. Cooked meat, on the other hand, can last for between two to three months when stored frozen.
Water Cooler Meat Preservation: Sacrificial Meat Preservation Technique in the Absence of Electricity
Given that there are frequent blackouts in Pakistan, there should not be any mistake regarding the provision of a non-electrical back-up system, which could include loading up a water cooler with ice cubes.
Put ice on the bottom of the cooler first. Put the meat pieces above the layer of ice and then put some more ice above them so that the meat is covered with ice from all sides. With the melting of ice – especially on those hot Eid days – keep adding ice again to maintain continuous cold conditions. The ice system works until there is ice left, which makes it useful only up to a certain period after Qurbani.
Salt Curing – An Ancient Technique for Meat Preservation
Salt curing is one of man’s earliest and safest ways of meat preservation, and it is still applicable today when it comes to preserving sacrificial meat during the Eid in cases where freezing or even availability of ice is not possible. Cover the meat with salt that is used for curing and place it in a tightly sealed container in the coolest possible place. Furthermore, once the meat has been cured by the salting method, it will still be edible within a period of one month.
When it comes to preparing any food out of the salted meat, it is recommended that you get rid of all the extra salt present on the meat.
