the benefits of frozen food

Every cut is professionally frozen at the peak of maturation – that’s when our expert Butchers judge it to have the best rich flavour and tenderness. The result? When you defrost it, the quality is the same as the moment it left the Butcher’s knife.

What are the advantages of frozen?

Frozen means convenience. Pop it straight in your own freezer, and it’s on hand whenever you need it – no last-minute trips to the shops.

Frozen means the best quality. Our Butchers judge when each piece of meat is at the peak of maturation and freeze it there and then. It makes a difference!

Frozen means fewer additives. Freezing is ‘nature’s own preservative’, so there’s no need to add artificial ones.

Frozen means less waste. Defrost as much as you need at any one time – no more. You can take advantage of our fantastic offers on meat boxes, and not waste a thing.

Frozen means freshness. For our meat, it’s matured, but for our fish, veg and other goodies, it means they’re fresh – no hanging around in storage or on supermarket shelves.

Frozen means healthy. Vitamins and other nutrients are naturally preserved, so you know what you’re eating is good for you.

Is freezing from home not just as good?

Afraid not! First, you don’t know how fresh or matured a product is before you freeze it, and that could affect the quality and flavour. Secondly, your freezer at home will freeze food slowly, allowing ice crystals to form in the food.

The fact is, your freezer at home is designed to keep food frozen, but not to freeze it from fresh – for that, you need a professional ‘blast freezer’, like we have at Donald Russell.

why are ice crystals bad for my food?

Ice crystals damage the structure of the meat, meaning that when it’s defrosted, it leaks a lot of liquid. This can make the end result disappointingly dry. By freezing food super-fast, like we do here, we can prevent the formation of most ice crystals, meaning your meat is juicier and more delicious!

What's the best way to defrost my food and how long can I keep it in my freezer?

Unlike freezing, defrosting is best done slowly. We recommend keeping food in its packaging and defrosting overnight in the fridge. This way, the meat stays juicier and more tender.

It varies from product to product how long you should keep frozen food for – for instance, fish should be kept for a shorter time than beef. It also depends on exactly when the item was frozen in the first place. Here at Donald Russell, we’ll always put a ‘best before’ date on every product, so you can be sure you’re eating food at its best.

Should I dispose of my food if it's past its 'best before' date?

If you have anyone vulnerable or of poor health in your family, then this is a good idea. However, the ‘best before’ date is just that – a guideline as to when food is at its best. Most foods, particularly raw cuts of beef like steaks, will not instantly become unsafe to eat after the ‘best before’ date, but they may start to deteriorate a little in quality – for instance, the flavour and texture may not be at their optimum.