You’ve heard of Wagyu beef, and you are ready to make the investment required to try it. When you begin to look into it, though, you find that the majority of your options for purchasing it offer only frozen Wagyu. Is that an acceptable way to buy Wagyu? Frozen Wagyu can often look purple, rather than red, which makes some customers nervous. Is frozen Wagyu beef as good as fresh? Yes, and we will explain why it is sold that way, and why that is perfectly safe.
Think about it. Much of the Wagyu beef available to Americans must be ordered online. American Wagyu beef comes from a limited number of cows, in Wagyu cattle farms across the nation. Ordering it and having it shipped to you means freezing it is the best option for keeping it safe.
But why would it turn purple? Before being frozen, Wagyu beef is vacuum sealed, to protect its freshness. This cuts off the supply of oxygen to the meat, and this lack of oxygen causes the purple coloring. Even if the meat was not frozen, being in a sealed package would cause this effect.
One great thing about frozen meat is that it lasts longer than if it were just refrigerated. Storing Wagyu beef in the freezer allows it to be safely stored for up to 12 months, without losing its nutrients or flavor. We recommend, however, that you use it within four months. The one thing you should never do, however, is defrost and refreeze Wagyu. Doing so can degrade the quality of the meat, causing it to lose some of that prized flavor and texture.
When you are ready to prepare your Wagyu beef, the first step is to defrost it properly. There are a few different ways to do this, but we do not recommend thawing it in the microwave. This is the most expensive beef in the world, and you don’t want to risk diminishing its quality in the microwave. It is better to place the Wagyu beef in a sealed container in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight. Alternately, you can place your Wagyu, in a sealed bag, in a bowl of cold water. Place something like a utensil on top of the bag to keep it submerged, and allow it to defrost for 30 to 90 minutes. Once your Wagyu beef is thawed, allow it to come all the way to room temperature before you cook it.
Whenever you are looking for top-quality American Wagyu Beef, you can trust Triple T Ranch. Located in south Alabama, our small, family-owned-and-operated ranch is a place where practicing proven husbandry techniques ensures the health and prosperity of the herd as well as the production of high-quality Wagyu beef. Our cattle are well cared-for and registered through the American Wagyu Association. Call (251)333-2800, shop for American Wagyu beef online, or contact us through our website for more information.