Last updated on January 12th, 2024 at 09:11 am

Can you dry rub, season, or marinate frozen beef and how to do it right


seasoned frozen beef round ready for searing
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Beef is a versatile meat that can be used in various dishes, and most people probably have frozen beef sitting in their freezer right now. Beef can also be dense, however, which means it can take longer to unthaw than some other types of meat. Because of this, you may wonder if you could add dry rub, season, or marinate frozen beef before you defrost it.

Beef can be seasoned while still frozen, though it may not be as effective as if you let the meat dethaw before applying. Unthawing the surface layer of the beef, mixing spices with mustard or oil, or completely unthawing it, gives the seasoning something to stick to.

Can you dry rub or season frozen beef

Yes, it’s possible and completely safe to dry rub or season frozen beef. If you do it, the effect of spices will be less intense than if you season thawed beef. 

The problem is that dry rub or seasoning falls off of frozen beef or is swept away by the thawing process because beef releases a lot of juices when thawing.

ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING FOOD

Ziplock storage slider bags
Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Slider Bags, Power Shield Technology for More Durability, 26 Count (Pack of 4)
Aluminum pan/containers
55 Pack - Aluminum Pan / Containers with Lids / Foil Containers / Aluminum Pans with Lids / Take Out Containers / Disposable Pans / Aluminum Foil Food Containers / Freezer meals containers (2.25 LB)
Vacuum sealer machine
Vacuum Sealer Machine By Mueller | Automatic Vacuum Air Sealing System For Food Preservation w/Starter Kit | Compact Design | Lab Tested | Dry & Moist Food Modes | Led Indicator Lights
White freezer paper
White Freezer Paper Dispenser Box (17.25 Inch x 175 Feet Roll) - Poly Coated Moisture Resistant Wrap with Matte Side for Freezing Meats, Protects Against Freezer Burn
Plastic storage containers
fullstar 50 PCS Plastic Food Storage Containers with Lids (24 Containers & 24 Lids), Leakproof BPA-Free Containers for Kitchen Organization, Meal Prep, Reusable Lunch Container - (Pack of 50)
Removable freezer labels
300pcs Removable Freezer Labels, Yoget 1 x 3 Inch Food Storage Stickers, Refrigerator Freezer Paper Label Easy Clean Leaves No Residue, 2 Color Food Labels Roll

Most versatile freezing bag, perfect for storing fresh food items like fruits, vegetables, meat, soups,

Must have for microwave and oven dinners
- pasta, lasagna
- casserole
- meatloaf

Best for keeping food fresh for longer
- meat
- vegetables
- fruit

Perfect for wraping meat
- steaks
- small and large meat cuts
- also great for bbq and grill

Best for freezing
- grains
- soups
- vegetables
- fruit

Must have reminder for freezing item - write best before date and content

Ziplock storage slider bags
Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Slider Bags, Power Shield Technology for More Durability, 26 Count (Pack of 4)

Most versatile freezing bag, perfect for storing fresh food items like fruits, vegetables, meat, soups,

Aluminum pan/containers
55 Pack - Aluminum Pan / Containers with Lids / Foil Containers / Aluminum Pans with Lids / Take Out Containers / Disposable Pans / Aluminum Foil Food Containers / Freezer meals containers (2.25 LB)

Must have for microwave and oven dinners
- pasta, lasagna
- casserole
- meatloaf

Vacuum sealer machine
Vacuum Sealer Machine By Mueller | Automatic Vacuum Air Sealing System For Food Preservation w/Starter Kit | Compact Design | Lab Tested | Dry & Moist Food Modes | Led Indicator Lights

Best for keeping food fresh for longer
- meat
- vegetables
- fruit

White freezer paper
White Freezer Paper Dispenser Box (17.25 Inch x 175 Feet Roll) - Poly Coated Moisture Resistant Wrap with Matte Side for Freezing Meats, Protects Against Freezer Burn

Perfect for wraping meat
- steaks
- small and large meat cuts
- also great for bbq and grill

Plastic storage containers
fullstar 50 PCS Plastic Food Storage Containers with Lids (24 Containers & 24 Lids), Leakproof BPA-Free Containers for Kitchen Organization, Meal Prep, Reusable Lunch Container - (Pack of 50)

Best for freezing
- grains
- soups
- vegetables
- fruit

Removable freezer labels
300pcs Removable Freezer Labels, Yoget 1 x 3 Inch Food Storage Stickers, Refrigerator Freezer Paper Label Easy Clean Leaves No Residue, 2 Color Food Labels Roll

Must have reminder for freezing item - write best before date and content

Last update on 2024-03-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to apply seasoning to frozen beef

The solution for dry rubbing or seasoning any cut of frozen beef are following:

  1. Unthaw the surface layer, which acts as a glue for the rub
  2. Mix herbs with mustard or oil and apply to frozen beef
  3. Oil the surface of frozen beef before applying the seasoning
  4. Rinse frozen piece under cold water and pat dry
  5. Thaw the piece completely and apply rub or seasoning

The best way to season frozen beef with dry rub, such as tenderloin, ribs, brisket, or any other cut, is to let it unthaw a bit first. This will help to ensure the seasoning sticks better to the beef. You can either place the frozen beef in a pan with oil and let it sear a little before adding the dry seasoning, or you can rinse the beef under warm water to allow the surface of the meat to thaw. 

Then pat the beef dry with a paper towel and either rub or sprinkle the dry seasoning over the beef’s surface. Both methods work by thawing out the surface layer of the beef. Once it is thawed, the seasoning will adhere to the meat. This lets you season the frozen beef without first letting it completely defrost.

Keep in mind that when cooking frozen beef without first allowing it to thaw, it does release more steam than cooking fresh beef. This additional steam can cause some of the dry rub to come off during cooking. So you may have to add extra seasoning while cooking to make up for this.

Can you season frozen ground beef and how to do it?

While you can season frozen ground beef, it is best to allow the meat to thaw entirely before doing so. This is because seasoning just cannot stick to frozen beef.

When you try to add seasoning to frozen ground beef, it just bounces off the meat. This does nothing to flavor the beef and only wastes your precious seasoning. Instead, allow the ground beef to unthaw before adding seasoning.

How to apply seasoning to frozen ground beef?

Before you can apply seasoning to frozen ground beef, you will need to allow the meat to thaw. This can be done by placing the beef in the refrigerator and letting it unthaw for several hours or allowing the beef to unthaw in lukewarm water while still in its packaging.

If you use the water bath method to unthaw, you will need to swap out the water as it starts to cool down. Keep in mind, however, that if you don’t have a few hours to let the beef unthaw completely, you can unthaw only the top surface of the meat and then apply the seasoning. Just make sure to pat the surface of the ground beef dry with paper towels before adding the seasoning.

Is it better to unthaw beef before seasoning

Yes, it is better to unthaw beef before sesoning. Seasoning frozen beef, such as steak, can quickly become a frustrating situation. This is because the dry seasoning just cannot stick to the frozen surface. So you keep trying to add more seasoning, without avail, and all you’re left with is an unseasoned frozen slab of meat and wasted seasoning. If possible, it is always better to allow the beef to thaw completely before you add any seasoning, dry rub, marinade, or sauce.

Can you marinate frozen beef and best way to do it

While you can take frozen beef directly from the freezer and into a marinade, as the beef begins to thaw, it will release moisture, which can dilute the flavor of the marinade. 

With that said, however, the dilation isn’t typically too bad and you may not even notice it. It is always better, however, to let the beef thaw before marinading. 

If you’re in a bind and don’t have time to unthaw it first, you can let the beef unthaw while sitting in the marinade, and it won’t affect the flavor too much. 

Make sure the frozen beef is completely submerged in the marinade and let it soak in the fridge for between 2 and 24 hours. While it’s defrosting inside the marinade, the meat will absorb the flavor and moisture of the sauce.

Conclusion

If possible, the best way to season beef is to allow it to thaw before adding the seasoning or marinade. This helps to keep the seasoning on the beef. If you don’t have time for a complete unthaw, you can help the seasoning stick to the beef by rinsing the meat under warm water. This unthaws the surface layer of the beef, which gives the seasoning something to stick to.

Rok

I am a kind of person that would sneak a taste out of grandma’s pot when I was barely tall enough to reach it. I grew up in kitchens full of love and liveliness and have spent my whole live learning, experimenting and succeeding in the art of cooking. At Pro Family Chef, every day is an opportunity for a new meal and a brand new flavor. I created this website to connect people that love to cook, with the products designed to make their cooking easier, hassle-free and rewarding every time.

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