meat - FoodNerdy Recipes Management System

Is it easy to freeze meat? In principle yes, but you should follow a few rules so that the meat stays fresh and no germs develop.

Freezing meat: the most important steps

Step 1: Pat the meat dry with some paper towels.
Step 2: Take a suitable freezer bag* and make sure that the pieces of meat are as separate as possible and at the same time as flat and dense as possible. The flatter it is, the faster it can be thawed again later.
Step 3: Then pack your meat as airtight as possible to prevent germs and freezer burns. The easiest way to do this is with a vacuum sealer*
Step 4: The meat should be frozen as soon as possible. If you have it, you can use your freezer’s “super frost” function.
Attention: There is something special about minced meat. It is considered to be particularly susceptible to germs. Therefore, the cold chain must be maintained and the meat should be frozen promptly. Also, it should be packed flat and tightly in small portions.
How long the meat can stay frozen depends on the variety

Defrost meat: how to do it!

There are also a few aspects to consider when defrosting, because bacteria and germs can spoil the meat. Also, slow thawing means less liquid is lost, which helps preserve flavor.
Step 1: Plan your next meal ahead of time as it is advisable to leave the meat in the fridge overnight
But if it has to be done quickly, the packaged meat can be placed in cold water. Alternatively, it can be defrosted in the microwave.
Step 2: Drain off the defrosting liquid and pat the meat dry with paper towels.
Step 2: Process the thawed meat promptly.
It is important: Do not refreeze the thawed, raw meat, otherwise the meat loses quality and you risk the development of harmful germs.
Tip: In addition to raw meat, you can also freeze many other foods such as cheese, rice, pasta or butter!

Food

Clean Meat: Artificial Meat from the Laboratory

Artificial meat – just a dream of the future or soon to be reality? Sounds absurd, but it is not at all unlikely that meat grown from stem cells will soon be on our supermarket shelves. Can Clean Meat be the future solution to problems such as factory farming, climate impact, and pollution?

What is Clean Meat?

When it comes to artificial meat, artificial meat, clean meat, or clean meat, San Francisco and Silicon Valley take the reins. The aim of the current developments is to produce artificial meat. In the future also be in such a way that consumers can afford it. And how? Instead of slaughtering animals, meat is to be grown in bioreactors using stem cells from pigs, poultry, and cattle.

Author Paul Shapiro published a book on “Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World” in January and explains the idea in an interview with the BBC TV channel quite simply: “When you put stem cells in a test dish and fooling them into believing they are in an animal body, then they grow into muscle mass.”

The difference between real meat? There wouldn’t be, because “it’s real meat — only you don’t have to raise and slaughter animals for it,” Shapiro said. So no meat substitute. But how realistic is it that the production of Clean Meatworks in such a way that there is no loss of consistency and taste and the price of the end product corresponds to or at least resembles that of the current meat?

Memphis Meat, Mosa Meat & Co.

There are more and more companies trying to distance themselves from the idea of factory farming and everything related to the subject as much as possible.

For example, the innovative company Beyond Meat is a Los Angeles-based plant-based meat substitutes manufacturer that produces a variety of plant-based protein-based foods.

Another start-up is Memphis Meat; a food technology company in San Francisco that grows sustainably farmed meat. The company has set itself the task of using biotechnology to produce various meat products. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and British entrepreneur Richard Branson, among others, have invested in Memphis Meat.

Proud price – $40 per gram

Memphis Meat launched the first clean meat hamburger in London in 2013 for around $330,000. It’s not an understatement to say that’s a lot of money. But now Memphis Meat is producing the artificial meat for $40 a gram, which is quite a difference from 2013.

Mosa Meats aims to sell a $10 clean meat burger patty by 2020. In the future, clean meat should be produced in such a way that it is reasonably priced for consumers and is on par with the prices of conventionally produced meat. (2)

Fight against climate change

Consume animal products without animals having to suffer? Sounds like a step in the right direction; also in the fight against climate change.

Various scientists believe that meat from bioreactors has many benefits for the environment and our planet. Not only could consumers get a grip on the danger of consuming contaminated meat from salmonella or other bacteria, but also the chance of a better climate balance.

No factory farming also means less water consumption, less deforestation, and a drastic reduction in the use of antibiotics.

Clean Meat: Does the concept have a catch?

When it comes to clean meat, some questions remain unanswered when it comes to the cost of development and research, and how long it will take for the first clean meat to be available at an affordable price to the consumer.

Some critics will probably also remark that it would make more sense to invest the time and money in improving the conditions of animal husbandry in the long term and in a sustainable way, and to advise people not to eat meat in large quantities, but rather to eat meat occasionally to enjoy certain respect.

Is the Clean Meat concept future-proof and can it help to improve it? If the ecological balance, nutritional value, and taste are good, that would be a huge success!

Imaginable artificial meat for consumers?

How do you think consumers react to artificial meat? Does clean meat trigger disgust or perhaps even positive thoughts in consumers? One thing is clear: it is unusual for everyone at first!

Hamburgers, nuggets, and pies are the smaller hurdle and arguably the fastest on the market. If it’s a juicy steak,

Food

Debate: Higher VAT on Meat for More Animal Welfare?

The Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V. calls for a price increase on meat to improve animal welfare. There are various solution models for this – among other things, raising the VAT rate on meat products is under discussion.

Animal rights activists are calling for an earmarked price increase

The Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V. would like to achieve a meat tax, the income from which will improve the welfare of livestock. Due to the earmarking, the money would benefit farmers who are willing to change their animal husbandry and advocate animal welfare.

Albert Stegemann from the Union parliamentary group also welcomes the idea of the animal welfare association: He also sees the solution in earmarking, because the resulting income “must be used as an animal welfare premium to support animal owners in Germany with the conversion,” said Stegemann.

Increase in VAT as a simple solution

Both the SPD and the Greens advocate raising the VAT rate for meat. This is currently 7 percent – the increase would result in a tax rate of 19 percent.

SPD politician Rainer Spiering is counting on increasing the VAT rate “for the sake of simplicity”. The only drawback: the solution would primarily affect the consumer, but less on meat producers and food retailers, who should also be involved.

There is also opposition from EU budget minister Günther Oettinger: he is of the opinion that the tax increase would not help to reduce meat consumption.

Is taxation idea not legally possible?

Increasing VAT seems like a simple solution, but it is unlikely to bring the expected benefits. The Federal Ministry of Finance conceded that the earmarked use of VAT revenue for more animal welfare is not legally possible.

The general secretary of the farmers’ association, Bernhard Krüsken, is also critical of the taxation model: “Not the tax authorities, but the farmers need funds and support for the further development of animal husbandry”.

Food

Hearty Minced Meat Casserole with White Cabbage

I got this recipe from a good friend and have been cooking it a lot ever since. The cabbage minced meat casserole is not only delicious and inexpensive but also quick and easy to prepare.

The minced meat casserole with white cabbage is ready to serve after around 30 to 40 minutes. In my experience, kids like it just as much as adults. Due to the uncomplicated preparation, this casserole is also very suitable for beginners in the field of cooking.

Ingredients for 4 persons

– 1 head (approx. 800 g) of white cabbage or savoy (depending on taste)
– 1 large onion
– 500 g minced meat (half and half)
– 500 g chopped tomatoes (fresh or from the package)
– 375 ml vegetable broth
– 100 g of grated cheese
– some oil (for frying)
– Salt
– Pepper
– Sweet paprika)

Preparation of minced meat casserole with white cabbage

The cabbage (or savoy cabbage) is cut into strips and washed well. Then it is fried in a little oil for about 5 minutes, stirring and turning constantly, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

At the same time, the finely diced onion is also fried with minced meat and seasoned (salt, pepper, paprika powder).

When the minced meat is crumbly-brown, add the tomato pieces and the broth. Bring everything to the boil briefly and then let it dwell on the stove at medium temperature for a few minutes. Then it should be seasoned again with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Now all the ingredients (including the cabbage or savoy cabbage) are put together in a greased casserole dish and placed in the preheated oven (electric stove: 200 degrees/convection oven: 175 degrees).
Leave in the oven for a total of about 20 minutes. After about 10 – 15 minutes, the casserole is taken out and the grated cheese sprinkled over it. Then put it back in the oven and continue cooking until the end of the specified time. The cheese should be well melted and browned.

If you like, you can serve boiled potatoes with it.

Useful additional knowledge about the minced meat casserole

It also tastes very good if you cut the potatoes (raw) into small cubes beforehand, put them in the casserole dish together with the other ingredients, and cook them in the oven. Depending on your taste, you can also add a cup of sweet cream.

Food

Peppers Stuffed with Minced Meat and Potatoes

Peppers are very high in vitamin C. This turns the dish into a real Vitamin-c-rich lunch that the whole family will enjoy, especially for the cold season. It’s quick to prepare and finishes baking alone in the oven. A quick dish that is easy to prep and then finishes quickly in the oven.

Ingredients for 4 persons

– 4 peppers
– a bit of salt
– 125 ml milk
– 1 bag of mashed potatoes
– 1 onion
– 3 tomatoes
– 1 tbsp. oil
– 300 g mixed minced meat
– 200 g spread (paprika) e.g. B. from fracture
– 2 tablespoons tomato paste
– 250 ml vegetable broth
– Fresh herbs for decoration

Preparation

Cut off the top of each pepper. Then clean the peppers (remove white skin and seeds) and wash.
For the filling, 375 ml of water are boiled with a little salt. Then remove from the stove and pour in the milk. Then stir in the mashed potatoes with a whisk. Let the mashed potatoes swell a bit.
In the meantime, peel the onion and cut it into fine cubes. Clean the tomatoes and cut them into wedges.
Now heat a pan with some oil and sauté the onion and minced meat. Then season with salt. Then add the tomatoes, fry the whole thing briefly and stir in the spread.
Then this mixture is mixed with the finished mashed potatoes and the peppers are filled with it.
For the sauce, mix the tomato paste with the broth and pour into a casserole dish. Then the peppers are placed in the casserole dish.
The whole thing is baked in a preheated oven at 200 degrees top and bottom heat or 175 degrees circulating air for about 20 minutes.
Finally, garnish with fresh, chopped herbs and serve.

Refinement

If necessary, grated cheese can be sprinkled over the peppers, which then gives the whole thing a grand finale.

Useful additional knowledge

It takes about 30 minutes to prepare and the dish is easy to prepare even for beginners.

Food

Meat Sausage Bean Pot

Anyone who likes to cook quickly and likes a certain Western flair should try a good meat sausage and bean pot.

Ingredients for 6 people

– 1.5 KG of potatoes
– 1 meat sausage ring (or longer)
– 250 g of diced bacon
– 1 can of red beans
– 1 can of white beans
– 1 can of green beans
– 1 cup of whipped cream

Preparation

Peel the potatoes and cook, as usual, let cool, and dice
Cut meat sausage into cubes
Rinse the white and red beans well in a colander and drain
Take a large saucepan and let the bacon warm slightly
Add the meat sausage cubes, potatoes, and red and white beans and heat up briefly
Stir in a can of green beans with liquid
Mix everything with the cream
cook for approx. 10-15 minutes and season to taste

Useful additional knowledge

A tasty and simple dish that is also inexpensive. The different bean colors give off a beautiful blaze of color. If you like it a little spicier, just add some Tabasco or chili. The meat sausage and bean pot also freeze well. If you like it vegetarian, simply leave out the sausage and bacon or replace them with tofu. I recommend smoked tofu.

Food

Minced Meat Casserole with Rice and Tomato Sauce

The hearty minced meat casserole with rice and tomato sauce tastes good for the whole family. This German minced meat casserole is easy to prepare, which is very useful for us working housewives.

Ingredients for 4 people Minced meat casserole with rice

1 cup of rice
1 bun
1 onion
2 bunches of parsley
400g mixed minced meat
2 eggs

Salt, some horseradish, some ginger, and curry powder (approx. ½ tsp.)
1 cup of breadcrumbs
grated cheese
2 tbsp. butter
a packet of tomato sauce
1 bunch of chives
some garlic powder
4 tbsp. cream

Preparation for the hearty minced meat casserole

Wash the rice thoroughly (until the water runs clear) and pre-cook for about 10-12 minutes. Soak the bun in lukewarm water. Peel the onion and chop finely. Wash and chop the parsley. Squeeze and tear the bun. Grease an ovenproof casserole dish.

Preparation of German minced meat casserole

Using your hands, knead the minced meat with the bun, the diced onions, the eggs, the parsley, the salt, and the horseradish into a dough.

Mix the drained rice with ginger and curry powder. Alternately place a layer of rice and ground beef in the casserole dish (start with rice and end with ground beef).

Mix the cheese and breadcrumbs and spread over the casserole. Finally, put butter flakes on the casserole and bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for about 40 minutes.

Prepare the tomato sauce according to the instructions and refine with the garlic powder, the cream, and the chives.

Useful additional knowledge

Prepare the casserole and place it in the fridge. Then just add the knobs of butter and bake.

Food

Instructions for Freezing and Thawing Meat

Proper freezing and thawing of meat are important. This prevents harmful germs from forming or the meat from losing its delicious taste. That’s why we’ve created a simple step-by-step guide for you.

Many know the problem, you got hold of cheap meat on sale the last time you went shopping and now you want to freeze a small supply. But the next time you thaw it, you’ll find that the meat just doesn’t taste good anymore, or that it’s got freezer burn again.

Preserve healthy meat

In the past, people dried or salted meat to preserve it. But since the invention of the freezer, every household has found it easy to store leftover or fresh meat longer. So you don’t have to throw away leftover meat and you still have a supply in case of emergencies. But when freezing meat you have to pay attention to a few things so that our step-by-step instructions can help you. In addition, note other tips for storing food properly and preserving it.

In which container do you freeze the meat?

The first question when freezing meat is what container do you keep the meat in? It is best if you pack the meat as airtight as possible. A standard freezer bag is often sufficient for this. But it is important to squeeze excess air out of the bag. If you want to freeze chops or steaks, it’s best to put a piece of cling film between the individual slices so they don’t freeze together. And so they stay juicy when frying. Finally, you can close the freezer bags with a clip or with the freezer bag fasteners. In addition, note our tips for freezing bread.

Store meat in the freezer

When operating a freezer, you should make sure that a constant temperature of minus 18 degrees is maintained. For example, if you want to freeze larger quantities at once, the temperature in the appliance may rise too much. Then the already frozen food can thaw. And you should definitely avoid that. As a result, you have to press the shock freeze button on almost every device before you put the frozen food in the chest. As soon as the meat is frozen, the button can be switched off again. Sometimes leftover meat from lunch. Since you shouldn’t throw anything away, you can easily freeze these leftovers in a suitable and well-closing plastic box.

Shelf life of frozen meats

Since different types of meat have different shelf lives, you should only freeze the same types of meat together. The shelf life also depends on the storage temperature. Consequently, at an optimum storage temperature of minus 18 degrees, pork has a shelf life of around 8 months and beef can be stored for around 12 months. In addition, chicken meat can be stored in the freezer for 8-10 months and veal meat for between 9 and 12 months.

Tips for freezing ground beef

Special care must be taken when freezing minced meat. Because you should press it together as flat as possible. This makes it easier to store in the freezer and defrost faster. You should not store minced meat in the freezer for longer than four months. But that depends on the cooling device, you will find the relevant information in the operating instructions. But a minimum temperature of -18°C is important. Also, note the best vegan minced meat alternatives.

Procedure for processed meat products

If you depend on a supermarket or discounter meat or prefer it, there are a few things to keep in mind here as well. Because many products are offered in plastic bowls. And the meat is almost always packed in a protective gas atmosphere. Because it looks healthy and lasts longer. That’s why you should never put the meat in the freezer with this bowl on. Instead, be sure to unpack the meat, dry it, and place it in a new bag to freeze. So you can be sure that the meat will still taste good after defrosting. Also interesting is our article with delicious menu ideas for grilling.

Proper handling of the freezer

Proper handling of the freezer is essential for freezing meat products. Therefore, here are a few tips for dealing with the deep freeze or the freezer compartment. First of all, you should defrost and thoroughly clean your freezer compartment at least once a year. You should also defrost and clean your refrigerator regularly. This prevents the development of unpleasant smells and tastes. In addition, you can save electricity in the household in the long term. Consequently, you should unplug the chest, remove the food, and then briefly place a bowl of hot water in the compartment. Then close the door, and wait a few minutes. The ice it contains can then be easily removed. Just let the rest thaw and drain. Then simply wash the chest with washing-up liquid and dry it.

health

This is What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat

Happy without meat: Consciously avoiding meat is becoming more and more popular around the world. But what actually happens to our bodies when we give up meat?

The effects of not eating meat are many. The body reacts in the following way:

Weight loss: Those who do not eat meat lose weight more easily and quickly.
Lowering the risk of cancer: Red meat is suspected of being carcinogenic. The body fat percentage also plays a role here.
Healthier intestinal flora:
Better Body Odor:
A disadvantage:

health

6 Good Reasons Why You Should Eat Less Meat

October 30, 2025

More and more people are opting for a vegetarian or vegan diet.

6 good reasons to give up meat

“Do you have anything vegetarian?” Not so long ago, this question made the staff roll their eyes in some restaurants. In the meantime, meatless dishes can be found on many menus as a matter of course. Vegetarians and vegans are hardly ever looked at askance. Too many people rely on this diet for that. The reasons for this diet speak for themselves.

1. Vegetarian diet is good for climate protection

Those who do without meat ensure lower greenhouse gas emissions. According to a study by the environmental protection organization WWF, around 25 percent of the climate footprint of an average person living in Germany is due to their diet.

Animal products account for the largest share (69 percent). Meat in particular should be mentioned here – beef is the most harmful to the climate – but dairy products should also be given more attention here. “Our current food systems pose one of the greatest challenges to our planet and the continued existence of humanity on Earth,” says the WWF study.

2. Meat consumption consumes a lot of resources

About 15 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted worldwide can be traced back to keeping livestock. Cattle, for example, emit large amounts of methane gas. Alongside the energy sector and transport, industrial animal husbandry is one of the main causes of climate change.

The production of one kilogram of beef, for example, produces a good 13 kilograms of CO2 equivalents, while the figure for fruit and vegetables is well under one kilogram. For the production of one kilogram of beef, up to 16 kilograms of grain are required as feed. “Industrial animal husbandry and the cultivation of animal feed take up 80 percent of all pasture and arable land in the world. In Germany, animal feed alone accounts for 60 percent of the arable land,” writes Greenpeace, for example.

If the arable land were used for the production of plant-based food instead, significantly more people could be fed.

3. Meat production uses a lot of water

Animal products contain much more water than plant-based ones. This is also referred to as “virtual water”, the total amount of water used in the manufacture of a product until it ends up on our plate or in our cupboard.

An example from the organization Peta: On average, 2,350 liters of virtual water are needed to produce a 150-gram beef burger, while an average of just over 150 liters of water is needed for a soy burger. The difference is also extreme when it comes to soy milk: just under 300 virtual liters of water are required for one liter of soy drink, while cow’s milk requires more than 1,000 liters.

4. Eating too much meat is unhealthy

Overall, according to the German Society for Nutrition, Germans eat twice as much meat as recommended by health experts. A quantity of 300 to 600 grams of meat per week would be significantly healthier, i.e. half of the current per capita consumption. Processed meat (sausage, ham) is even classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meat from conventional husbandry is also often treated with medication such as antibiotics. Anyone who eats a lot of meat therefore runs the risk of developing resistance to antibiotics.

5. Vegetarian diet protects animals

The grievances in factory farming have long been known: farm animals are often kept and killed under cruel, undignified circumstances. Keeping dairy cows is also often anything but animal-friendly.

On the other hand, more organic products in the shopping basket and the consideration of replacing some dairy products with vegan alternatives such as oat milk help.

6. Eating meat isn’t “natural” or “necessary”

People who eat meat and other animal products like to argue that it’s “natural” and “necessary.” But much contradicts this claim: not a few people get sick at the sight of blood, let alone a dead animal body. Dead bodies repel us.

In addition, our tooth structure and the human swallowing reflex have the characteristics of herbivores: We do not “tear” our food and do not swallow it in large chunks, but chew and swallow it, as Geo.de writes, among others.

Conclusion: Vegetarian diet has only advantages

In conclusion, it can be said that there is a lot to be said for a vegetarian or vegan diet. A meatless diet is good for the environment, animals and ourselves.