There are many reasons why meat lovers may need to store or freeze American Wagyu steaks, roasts, briskets, or ground beef. Sometimes they stock up with a bulk beef or sampler pack; other times, they want to save their incredibly marbled bone-in ribeyes for a memorable at-home date night. Whatever the reason, one of the most common questions about Wagyu beef storage is, “How long does Wagyu beef last in the fridge?” Continue reading this article to learn more about freezing Wagyu and how to thaw it safely.

How Long Does Wagyu Beef Last in the Fridge?

Raw, unfrozen Wagyu beef is typically safe to store in your refrigerator for up to five days. However, some suggest you keep organ meats and ground beef for no more than three days. If you plan to indulge in your premium beef within the next few days, here are some Wagyu beef storage tips for the refrigerator that help ensure you preserve the quality of the meat:

• Be sure to store your Wagyu in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
• Place your steak in an airtight package and store it on the lowest shelf, away from other foods and containers, to avoid cross-contamination risk.

Tips for Freezing Wagyu Beef

If you’re not planning on eating your steak within the next 48 hours or longer, freezing is the best, safest Wagyu beef storage option. Freezing Wagyu is easy and retains all of its natural juices if done right. Frozen Wagyu beef has a shelf life of up to 12 months.

To make sure you’re freezing Wagyu in a way that doesn’t negatively affect the quality of the meat:

• Tightly seal the meat: Vacuum sealing is the ideal way to wrap your Wagyu, but if you don’t have the necessary equipment, a large zipper storage or freezer bag is fine. Be sure to push all the air you can get out of the bag before tightly sealing it to minimize the risk of freezer burn or drying out the beef.
• Freeze Wagyu as fast as possible: The faster your steak freezes, the better it will be when it comes time to enjoy it. So keep the freezer door closed for as long as possible after putting your vacuum-sealed steak in. In most cases, the coldest part of a home freezer is on the bottom shelf, in the center, as far back from the door as it can be. Putting your steak or roast there makes sure it freezes quickly and doesn’t form ice crystals. This ensures that the Wagyu retains its natural juices when you thaw and cook.

If you have a freezer chest, we highly recommend using that for your Wagyu beef storage.

Can You Refreeze Wagyu Beef?

We get it, sometimes plans change, and that melt-in-your-mouth tenderloin you were daydreaming about has to be saved for another day. The good news is that if it hasn’t completely thawed, then you can refreeze it. Simply follow the steps above again, and you should have no problems.

How To Thaw Wagyu Beef

How you thaw Wagyu is just as critical to maintaining beef quality as Wagyu beef storage. What could ruin an evening at home quicker than slicing into a cooked steak that doesn’t live up to expectations because you didn’t thaw it properly?

Though you want to freeze Wagyu as quickly as possible, the opposite is true of thawing. To keep your marvelously marbled tomahawk steak juicy and irresistibly tender, thaw it in the refrigerator for 48 hours. All you have to do is take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. Keep it in the airtight container or packaging you froze it in and let it slowly defrost.

If the craving for a robust and savory NY stripstrikes and you have 24 hours or less to prepare, don’t panic. Make sure the steak’s airtight packing is intact and not punctured, and place it in a large bowl of cold water. This method thaws Wagyu much quicker than recommended above but doesn’t introduce any safety issues like running it under hot water. And it’s undoubtedly better for upholding the quality of the meat than microwaving it.

Once your steak has completely thawed, it is safe to remove it from the refrigerator or cold water bath and let it come to room temperature before grilling, roasting, or pan searing. All that’s left to do now is pour yourself a nice beverage, sip, and slice into your perfectly cooked Wagyu beef.

Understand Freezing and Thawing Wagyu? Now It’s Time to Order From the Good Silver Steak Co.

Good Silver is proud to offer the highest quality American Wagyu beef available. We stake our reputation on each bite you take—that’s why we only ship the most intensely marbled and decadently tender steaks, roasts, and briskets. And our American Wagyu beef storage is made easy for you. It comes vacuum sealed, so you don’t have to worry about getting an airtight seal. We invite you to shop our large selection of premium American Wagyu Beef so you can taste for yourself just how great a steak can be.