Can pastrami be frozen? - The best way

If you like a good sandwich, chances are you know about pastrami. It is a delicious meat that is added to many specialty sandwiches, but can be used for many different things. Maybe you’re a fan of pastrami on rye bread or a good Californian pastrami sandwich.

Regardless of what you choose to do with your pastrami, you need to know what your options are when it comes to storing it properly. There are several things you need to know about proper storage, especially if you need a long-term storage option.

Can pastrami be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze pastrami for up to 3 months. The longer the pastrami sits in the freezer, the more likely it is to start drying out. Dry pastrami is perhaps the biggest challenge to avoid. However, if you are careful to wrap and seal it well, you can successfully freeze pastrami.

In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know to freeze your pastrami. You can freeze it whole or cut, depending on what you have. We think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to freeze pastrami.

Read on to find out how to freeze pastrami and much more.

Complete Guide to Freezing Pastrami

Pastrami is a red meat originating from Romanian culture. You can make your own pastrami at home quite easily using corned beef or brisket.

The final result of pastrami tastes and looks quite similar to corned beef, but also has some sweet and savory flavors.

When pastrami is made, it usually comes from a beef breast, but it can also be made with turkey or lamb.

When meat is cut, it is brined and then partially dried and seasoned. Once it has aged slightly with seasoning, it is smoked and steamed to create pastrami.

What is the difference between pastrami and corned beef?  Don’t be fooled by the comparison to corned beef. Pastrami is not corned beef. They are prepared from slightly different cuts and are also cooked differently. Corned beef is boiled, while pastrami is smoked.

Let’s talk about how to properly freeze pastrami and then we can move on to other information.

Proper storage of pastrami in the freezer

If you make your own pastrami at home, we recommend freezing it plain. Or, if you need to cut it, you can cut just what you need and leave the remaining portion whole and uncut.

Likewise, it won’t hurt if it’s cut up or if you bought pastrami cut up. The good news is that you can freeze it either way and it will freeze just fine.

We’ve found that freezing uncut pastrami makes it less likely to freeze dry.  If it’s cut, be sure to wrap it well.

If the pastrami is cut, this is a good opportunity to divide it into portions, so that when you take some out of the freezer, you only have to take out what is needed at that time.

Freezing pastrami requires a double wrap method. Here are our recommended steps for the process:

1. Start by wrapping the pastrami tightly in plastic wrap. Be sure to use freezer-rated plastic wrap. Most plastic wrap is made for the freezer, but there are some that aren’t. Your food requires freezer protection, so check the box to make sure.
2. Once you’ve pre-wrapped the meat, place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. We like these freezer bags because they are simple and designed for freezer storage.
3. Remove as much air as possible from your container or bag and seal it well. Sealing it is one of the most important steps in the process.
4. Label and date your container.
5. Store pastrami in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Keep in mind that pastrami will keep well beyond 3 months if stored properly . However, we share this deadline because it is the maximum recommended time for the best quality to be maintained. 

The key to having a good pastrami after freezing is to make sure it is double wrapped and well wrapped.

Now let’s talk about the pros and cons of freezing pastrami. 

Advantages of freezing pastrami

• A good way to store leftover pastrami
• Preserves pastrami for up to 3 months with good quality
• Pastrami is easy to use once frozen
• Freezing is not too complicated for pastrami
• Pastrami will still taste great once frozen
• You can freeze pastrami uncut or in cut portions (uncut is best)

Cons of freezing pastrami

• Pastrami can be dried in the freezer
• 3 months is a bit of a time limit for freezing pastrami
• Pastrami should be frozen 1-3 days after making or purchasing for best results

As you can see, freezing pastrami is very easy. It is also very easy to work with the pastrami afterwards. The pros and cons of freezing pastrami shows us that if you follow the process correctly, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Pastrami may dry out a bit in the freezer, but if you follow these tips, you shouldn’t have any major problems.

Let’s talk about storing your pastrami before or after the freezer.

Proper Pastrami Storage Outside of the Freezer

Pastrami should not be stored at room temperature for a long time.  It’s okay for it to sit at room temperature for short periods of time, especially while making sandwiches or serving them to guests.

The recommended time for pastrami to come to room temperature is 2 hours or less.  This is because it is meat and bacteria can grow on it and cause it to go bad. If the pastrami is left out for more than 2 hours, we recommend that you discard it.

If you are not ready to freeze the pastrami, you can store it in the fridge for a few days. You can keep the pastrami in the fridge for 3-5 days.

If you are going to freeze the pastrami, make sure you do it before the fifth day. The sooner you decide to freeze it, the better it will be. 

How to use pastrami after freezing it

To wrap up this guide, we have some quick tips on how to handle pastrami after you’ve frozen it.

We’re not going to go too deep into how to cook it when it’s frozen, but we do have basic information on how to handle pastrami when it’s frozen. 

When you take it out of the freezer, if you plan to cook it, you can boil it immediately .

Some instructions will tell you to boil it from the freezer or even drop the entire packet into a large pot of boiling water. These are options for you.

You can also put the pastrami in the fridge and let it thaw overnight. Pastrami can still be used for cold cuts and sandwiches once frozen, so if you don’t plan to cook it right now, we recommend that you thaw it in the fridge and move on.

Once pastrami is thawed, it should only be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days. We do not recommend refreezing pastrami after it has been frozen and thawed once.

Related questions

We hope you found this guide to freezing pastrami a valuable resource with all the relevant information you need. It’s super easy to make and it freezes pretty well if you do it right.

We invite you to review the following section of questions and answers for additional information that may be useful to you.

Is pastrami unhealthy?

In terms of calories and fat, pastrami is not considered bad for you. Pastrami is quite high in sodium, but it also offers plenty of protein to your diet.

Pastrami is not considered bad for you when eaten in moderate portions. The way you serve it can also make a difference.

How can you tell if pastrami is bad?

The best way to tell if your pastrami has gone bad is by smell and sight. If it smells bad or has a strong unpleasant odor, you should probably throw it away.

Appearance-wise, if the meat is slimy, it’s probably going bad and should be thrown away.

Does homemade pastrami last the same?

For preservation purposes, both in the freezer and outside of it, we recommend following the same guidelines outlined in this guide for both homemade and store-bought pastrami.

The processes should work the same.