Frozen meat

[aris]

Are there any issues with smoking meat which has been previously frozen? Not looking at competition level cooking here - and frozen ribs have not been an issue for me, but what about something like a brisket, or a pork butt?

[JoeSalop]

I've smoked brisket and pork belly that were frozen. They were both fine. The skin from the belly wasn't v good though- I didn't smoke it, tried to oven it- ended up throwing it unfortunately.

[essexsmoker]

Only thing that can happen is that you lose moisture. the liquid you get in the package can't be put back.

[wigliams]

Hey Essexsmoker, nice to find someone from my neck of the woods! I froze a boneless pork butt from macros for a month. Defrosted it, took the netting off, took the rind off, tied it up again, cooked it on my uds, it was lum lum.

[essexsmoker]

Oh yeah, I use frozen all the time as I tend but a few bits when offers are on. All I'm saying is that the juice in the tray you often get from defrosting can't be put back and that fresh is better if you can. If the meat is fatty enough it will still be scrummy.