Pork chops are one of the most popular cuts of pork. With them being full of flavour and relatively quick to cook, that’s no surprise. So, if you find them on offer and grab a few packets of them, how should you store them?
Can You Freeze Pork Chops?
Yes, you can freeze pork chops for up to 6 months. We recommend you wrap the pork chops loosely in baking paper and then more firmly in cling film. Seal the cling film, and place the package into the freezer.
Do Do Pork Chops freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Pork Chops? No
How to Freeze Pork Chops
Freezing pork chops is a great idea – theyāre not a cheap product, so when you manage to pick up a few on offer, knowing you can freeze them with the quality degrading is excellent news. But, it does rely on you using the correct method:
- Portion Out: Refreezing raw pork chops is a bad idea so first, you need to decide on the portion sizes to use. If you only eat 2 pork chops in one meal, then stick to freezing them in pairs.
- Wrap in Baking Paper: The first layer of packaging around your pork chops should be a layer of baking paper so wrap each portion of chops in a loose sheet of baking paper.
- Wrap in Cling Film: Next, wrap them in a tight layer of cling film, which will seal them from air getting in but also protect other foods in your freezer from the raw produce within.
- Label and Freeze: Finally, clearly label each package and then pop them in the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Pork Chops
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing pork chops to have the best results:
Check the Seal
The outer layer being as well-sealed as possible is vital to ensure that the pork chops donāt cross-contaminate with other items within your freezer. If theyāre well-sealed, then you donāt have to worry about the presence of any contaminants, and your freezer will be safer for it.Ā
Freeze and Thaw in a Marinade
Whenever you thaw a protein, it typically has to sit for many hours before it can be used. Save time on marinading by allowing the meat to thaw within a marinade – it will absorb flavour as it thaws.Ā
Use Rigid Containers
If youāre concerned about items in your freezer causing damage to the pork chops in your freezer, then a rigid plastic container would be the best for ensuring they don’t get crushed. Consider freezing portions of pork chops in individual containers.Ā
How Long Can You Freeze Pork Chops?
You can freeze pork chops for anywhere between 4 and 6 months.
The reason that pork chops freeze so well is the same as the reason why any meat freezes well – the protein structure is very dense, allowing it to freeze without being destroyed by ice crystals forming throughout it.
Raw pork chops will last for between 3 and 5 days in the fridge. Once cooked, they will last for 3 days approximately.
How Do You Defrost Pork Chops?
The simplest way to defrost pork chops is to place them in your refrigerator overnight.
While you could keep them on the counter to thaw them, we suggest the fridge, as it will maintain a safe temperature for your thawed pork chops. A countertop, though, would not maintain any level of temperature, instead becoming a hazardous storage location.
Can You Refreeze Pork Chops?
Yes and no. Once raw pork chops have been thawed, they cannot be refrozen as raw pork chops. Their bacterial content may have developed, leading to a level of unsafeness in the meat.
If the raw pork chops have been thawed and cooked, however, theyāve essentially been sterilised and can be frozen once again. Therefore, we would say that while you cannot refreeze raw pork chops, you can cook the raw pork and then refreeze the cooked pork.
Do Pork Chops Freeze Well?
Yes, pork chops do freeze well.
As with all meat, the presence of fat and protein throughout the food prevents freezer burn or damage to the texture. If you haven’t considered it, then you can improve how it freezes by freezing the chops in a brine or marinade.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing pork chops or pork in general, then these may help:
Yes, cooked pork chops can be frozen for around 3 months. Once cooled, bag up, seal and freeze. Bear in mind that when you thaw and then reheat the pork chops, chances are you’ll end up overcooking them a little.
