Make sure you cool cooked roast beef before putting it in the freezer.
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There's a right and wrong way to freeze cooked roast beef, which cannot safely be kept nearly as long as when it's raw. Following the proper procedure helps ensure the beef's taste, coloring and texture are as close to fresh as possible upon thawing and reheating.
Tip
You can freeze an uncooked beef roast within 3 to 5 days of purchase if you aren't preparing it. Keep it frozen in its unopened packaging for up to a year. If you're freezing it for more than a month, though, protect against freezer burn by wrapping the packaging in freezer paper or aluminum foil or by putting it in a freezer bag.
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How to Freeze Roast Beef
Things You'll Need
Roast beef
Knife
Cutting board
Aluminum foil, freezer paper or freezer bags
Instructions
- Turn your freezer's temperature down as low as it goes 3 hours prior to freezing roast beef.
- Clear a large space for the meat to maximize cold air circulation around it. The faster the roast beef freezes, the better it'll be when you defrost it.
- Chill the roast beef in the refrigerator for 1 hour before freezing. Never put hot or warm food in the freezer, as it can partially or completely defrost surrounding frozen foods.
- Cut the chilled roast beef into slices if it's still whole, as thin pieces freeze more efficiently than larger ones. They're also more manageable when thawing and reheating.
- Wrap the roast beef tightly in heavy aluminum foil or freezer paper. You can also put it into freezer bags, pressing the air out as you seal the packages. Limit each bagged or wrapped package of beef to 2 inches thick for efficient freezing.
- Place the packages of roasted beef in the freezer. Avoid stacking them or letting them touch each other or other items in the freezer, if possible. They can be stacked or rearranged however you like once completely frozen.
- Store cooked roast beef for no more than 3 months in the freezer.
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