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Tips for freezing half a Costco boneless pork butt for another day?

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jollyred
jollyred Posts: 6
in Pork
Hello all,

I realized last weekend that pork butts at my local Costco come boneless and cut in half with a combined weight of 12-15lbs.

Assuming I just want to prepare one of these halves, what is the best way to store/freeze the other half for cooking at a later date?  And what would be a maximum safe duration of freeze?

Thanks,

Jollyred
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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,170
    edited May 2018
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    Put it in the freezer for a little while then FoodSaver it. If no foodsaver, freeze and then put in a two gallon ziplock bag. Use a straw to suck out the air. 
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  • pab
    pab Posts: 273
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    The other thing you can do is cook both of them at the same time. You won't take any more time or use any more fuel. Then pull and divide into meal size servings and freeze in ziplock freezer bags or FoodSaver bags and reheat bag and all in hot water on the stove. This is what I do even though it is just my 90 pound wife and I. I always cook them both and do 1# bags of pork. Often give some to friends as well. Pork butt is inexpensive and it is a good way to spread the gospel of the egg :)
    Nerk Ahia LBGE
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  • Scantron
    Scantron Posts: 93
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    I had the same issue with our Costco butts. I vacuum sealed the second one and froze it. Works great. Yes, I could have cooked both then froze the finished product, but two cooks is more fun. 
    Cooking on a Large Big Green Egg in North Chicagoland.
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  • jollyred
    jollyred Posts: 6
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    Thanks, everyone, for the comments.  I had never heard of a FoodSaver before... If I find this happens often, I may buy one.  Otherwise, I think I'll go with the straw and ziplock freezer bag for now.

    What about useful shelf life of frozen raw pork butt vs frozen smoked pulled pork?  Is there much difference?

    Thanks again for the helpful advice.
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  • abpgwolf
    abpgwolf Posts: 559
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    pab said:
    The other thing you can do is cook both of them at the same time. You won't take any more time or use any more fuel. Then pull and divide into meal size servings and freeze in ziplock freezer bags or FoodSaver bags and reheat bag and all in hot water on the stove. This is what I do even though it is just my 90 pound wife and I. I always cook them both and do 1# bags of pork. Often give some to friends as well. Pork butt is inexpensive and it is a good way to spread the gospel of the egg :)
    ^^ That's what I would do. If always had good luck freezing pulled pork

    Lititz, PA – XL BGE

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  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,110
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    jollyred said:
    Thanks, everyone, for the comments.  I had never heard of a FoodSaver before... If I find this happens often, I may buy one.  Otherwise, I think I'll go with the straw and ziplock freezer bag for now.

    What about useful shelf life of frozen raw pork butt vs frozen smoked pulled pork?  Is there much difference?

    Thanks again for the helpful advice.
    Shelf life for safety is as long as it stays frozen. Quality depends on your standards. Freezer burn from air in the bag and it going through the defrost cycle is hard to guess.
    But if you DON'T have a Foodsaver "I" would not cook, pull and try freezing the 2nd pulled pork butt. But would cook it, pull it and give it away. Even with a 2nd freezer, as cheap as pork is, it's not worth my freezer space. 
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
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  • JustOneOfTheGuys
    JustOneOfTheGuys Posts: 142
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    jollyred said:
    Hello all,

    I realized last weekend that pork butts at my local Costco come boneless and cut in half with a combined weight of 12-15lbs.

    Assuming I just want to prepare one of these halves, what is the best way to store/freeze the other half for cooking at a later date?  And what would be a maximum safe duration of freeze?

    Thanks,

    Jollyred
    Layers is the key to keeping out air.  We wrap proteins to be frozen twice in commercial food wrap...


    then in HD foil, then if possible we put it into a ziplock freezer bag with a tag with all the vital info: date purchased, where, what it is, weight and date frozen.  If you wrap it nice and tight, we’ve gotten upwards of 18 months without any freezer burn.  
    Southwestern CT
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  • logchief
    logchief Posts: 1,415
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    A vacuum sealer is worth every penny.  No more moldy cheese in the frig, etc.
    LBGE - I like the hot stuff.  The big dry San Joaquin Valley, Clovis, CA 
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  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
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    A vacume sealer beats the heck out suckin raw pork from a straw
    Dave - Austin, TX
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  • blasting
    blasting Posts: 6,262
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    If you really want to save one in the freezer, I agree with @DoubleEgger .

    I always do two at a time though, as @pab said.  Then I foodsaver in about 3/4 lb packages so I always have pulled pork for other recipes.


    Phoenix 
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    Never cook 1.  Tonight’s butts.  Brined.  Always.  



    Put it a plate on top of those to submerge.
    Will smoke all day on Mother’s Day.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
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    jollyred said:
    Hello all,

    I realized last weekend that pork butts at my local Costco come boneless and cut in half with a combined weight of 12-15lbs.

    Assuming I just want to prepare one of these halves, what is the best way to store/freeze the other half for cooking at a later date?  And what would be a maximum safe duration of freeze?

    Thanks,

    Jollyred
    Not to detract from the above advice, but what you have there in that pack from Costco is not a single butt cut in half. Rather, it is quantity two (2) boneless butts in a single cryovac pack. Just wanted to make sure facts were presented.
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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