Can you freeze beyond burger?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you freeze beyond burger?” and discuss how long do beyond burger lasts?

Can you freeze beyond burger?

Yes, you can freeze beyond burger. According to the manufacturer, Beyond Meat, their Beyond Burger can be frozen. It is recommended storing the Beyond Burger in the freezer until ready to use to help maintain its quality and freshness (2).

In the case of products that have been bought in the thawed condition, it is not recommended to be re-frozen and should be used within their expiration dates. Plant-based meat products are greatly susceptible to lose their texture when submitted to repeated freeze-thawing procedures. 

What happens when you freeze beyond burger?

When you freeze beyond burger, the water present in the food converts to the solid state and is inaccessible to be utilized by microorganisms. Simultaneously, the rate in which reactions occur and cause food deterioration, such as oxidation and hydrolysis reactions, as well as enzymatic reactions, is reduced, as the temperature is drastically reduced.

Freezing is one of the safest ways to preserve food, as microorganisms cannot grow in food when the temperature is reduced to -10°C or below. This makes foods in their frozen state safer than refrigerated or dried foods, for example.

However, freezing is not capable of eliminating pathogenic microorganisms or microbial toxins already present in food before they were frozen (6).

Hot to freeze plant-based meat?

According to the manufacturer, it is recommended to freeze the burger  in its original packaging and place it in the freezer until ready to use. The packaging is designed to help maintain the quality and freshness of the product (2).

It is not recommended to freeze the Beyond Burger after opening the package, as this can increase the risk of contamination and affect the quality of the product.

When freezing the Beyond Burger, it is important to ensure that the freezer temperature is set to 0°F (-18°C) or below. This will help ensure that the product stays frozen and maintains its quality.

How to thaw plant-based meat?

Manufacturers recommend thawing them overnight in the refrigerator, in a sealed container, so as not to destroy their flavor or texture. Plant-based meat analogues have the ability of retaining water and moisture during cooking, reheating, freezing, and thawing (4).

According to the manufacturers website, it is recommended to keep the product refrigerated and use it within 3 days of opening. Do not refreeze. Cook thoroughly before serving. If purchased frozen, thaw in the refrigerator before cooking and consume within 10 days of thawing in the refrigerator (2).

Can the taste of plant-based meat be altered after freezing and thawing?

Yes, the taste of plant-based meat can be altered after freezing and thawing procedures, especially in the case of repeated cycles of freeze-thawing. 

Freeze-thaw cycles lead to moisture migration within the food product, which causes unwanted alterations on the texture. Melting and refreezing of ice crystals leads to the formation of larger ice crystals, which disrupt the food structure, damaging its texture. Especially in the case of plant-based meats, which are emulsified foods, the stability of the water-oil binding is lost with consequent separation of the oil and water phases. This destabilization is irreversible (1).

In addition to losses on texture, repeated freezing and thawing of the food matrix causes significant destruction of vitamins and acceleration of oxidation processes. Oxidation leads to the generation of off-flavors and off-odors in foods.

Is Refrigeration required for the Beyond Burger®?

Yes. Keep the Beyond Burger in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook it on the stovetop, griddle, or grill so that it retains its freshness. Plant-based meat products primarily comprise plant proteins and are rich in nutrients. However, the products are highly susceptible to bacterial contamination during storage (3).

How long will the Beyond Burger® last in my refrigerator?

Beyond burger lasts about 10 days in the refrigerator after being thawed, according to the manufacturer. Check the “use-by” date on the front of the packaging if you purchased it chilled. The “If purchased frozen, use by” date on the label should be consulted if the product is purchased frozen. You may keep Beyond Burgers frozen and consume it for up to 10 days after being thawed after you defrost them.

Plant-based meats with high moisture content are susceptible to bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, during their storage, thereby reducing their shelf life. Plant-based meat products remain fresh under chilled conditions for several days, which can be extended to a few weeks when they are packed in a modified atmosphere or have undergone post-packaging pasteurization (3).

Is it safe to eat an undercooked Beyond Burger?

No, it is not safe to consume Beyond Meat uncooked, according to Beyond Meat. Plant-based meat alternatives may be contaminated with many types of bacteria. Cooking reduces the microbial load of food drastically (5). 

A study showed that after 14 days of refrigerated storage, the total plate count of microbes, E. coli, and the S. aureus in plant-based meat patties exceeded 5, 2, and 3 lg CFU/g, respectively, which was more than the threshold recommended by the National Standard of China (3). 

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you freeze beyond burger?” and we discussed how long do beyond burger last?

Reference

  1. Hu, Xiaoyan, and David Julian McClements. Development of Plant-Based Adipose Tissue Analogs: Freeze-Thaw and Cooking Stability of High Internal Phase Emulsions and Gelled Emulsions. Foods, 2022, 11, 3996.. 
  2. Beyond meat. Burger | Plant-Based Burger Patties | Beyond Meat.
  3. Dai, Zenghui, et al. Combination of Chitosan, Tea Polyphenols, and Nisin on the Bacterial Inhibition and Quality Maintenance of Plant-Based Meat. Foods, 2022, 11, 1524. 
  4. Joshi, V. K., and Satish Kumar. Meat Analogues: Plant based alternatives to meat products-A review. Int J Food Ferment Technol, 2015, 5, 107-119.    
  5. Food and Drug Administration. CHAPTER 16: Pathogenic Bacteria Survival Through Cooking or Pasteurization
  6. Kennedy, Christopher J., ed. Managing frozen foods. Woodhead Publishing Limited. 2000.

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