Fresh and cooked filet mignon freezes well in tight packaging.
Filet mignon, cut from the beef tenderloin, is a tender, juicy and succulent cut of beef. High-quality beef translates to a high price tag, so if you find filet mignon on sale, purchase it in bulk so you don't pay a higher price later. Filet mignon usually lasts about a week in the refrigerator after purchasing, but it freezes well if handled and packaged carefully.
Ready to Freeze
Freeze filet mignon purchased from a grocery store immediately without any extra care. If you purchase fresh-cut beef straight from the slaughterhouse or butcher shop, you must first age the beef in your refrigerator. Place the filet mignon in the refrigerator as soon as you bring it home. Refrigerate at a temperature between 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 36 F to help kill and prevent bacteria. Refrigerate for up to seven days before moving it to the freezer, which allows time to age and tenderize the filet mignon so it's even more flavorful.
Pack It Up
Exposure to air and moisture greatly reduces the delicate flavor of the filet mignon, often leading to freezer burned meat or ice crystal formation. You can't simply place a filet mignon in the freezer in its grocery store packaging because this doesn't provide moisture-vapor resistance. For best results, wrap each filet individually with freezer paper, just as you would wrap a present. Place the individual filets in a large freezer bag so they have double the protection inside the freezer. Remove as much air as possible from the freezer bags and seal them well. While you can wrap multiple filets together in the freezer paper, individual packaging makes it easy to remove and cook one filet at a time.
Storage Tips
Quick freezing helps cut down on freezer burn as well as proper packaging. After wrapping and sealing the filet mignon, clear the sides of your freezer so you can place the filet mignon packages against the freezer walls. The meat freezes fastest against the freezer walls; you can move them to the center of the freezer after about 24 hours or when the filets are frozen solid. Store it in the freezer for up to one year, but if the filet mignon is wrapped with cured bacon, the freezer storage time is only one to three months.
Cooked Filet Mignon
Freeze leftover filet mignon from a large meal to eat at a later date. This is most practical if, for example, you hosted a large party and have more meat left over than you could eat within a few days. Before adding cooked meat to the freezer, place it in the refrigerator to bring the temperature down. Package the filets with freezer paper and freezer bags, just as when freezing raw meat. Alternatively, store the cooked filets in a rigid storage container with a tight-fitting lid. Meat can dry out, so pour gravy or pan drippings over the meat to keep it moist before freezing. Store cooked filet mignon for two to four months in the freezer.
References
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freezing Meats
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freezing Animal Products
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freezing Prepared Foods
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Frequently Asked Freezing Questions
- True Star Health: Tenderloin Steak
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
