If you have excess gyro meat at home, you may not be aware of how to store them properly. You may notice that they are probably not lasting as long as they should. So how do you store them to avoid them going bad fast? In this article, we guide you through properly storing your gyro meat.
Storing Gyro Meat
Below is a step-by-step guide to storing your gyro meat in the fridge.
- The first step is to cool the meat to room temperature before handling it.
- If the meat is greasy, pat it down dry with a paper towel.
- Slice the meat as thin as you can and place it in an airtight container.
- Remove any sides or pita bread with it and store it separately.
This should make your gyro meat last about 2-3 days. While this may not be as long as most people hope, there are ways to make it last longer.
Freezing is the Key
If you plan to store a lot of gyro meat for bulk cooking, then freezing is the answer to your problems. In a freezer, your gyro meat should last about 2-3 months. This is perfect if you are running a business or you just enjoy having a gyro every now and then.
How to Freeze Gyro Meat
To freeze your gyro meat, just follow the steps written below.
- Slice your gyro meat thinly.
- Spread them out on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Freeze the gyro for about 2-3 hours or until hardened.
- Place the gyro meat in a heavy-duty freezer bag, and vacuum seal it to ensure no air is left inside.
As mentioned above, freezing the gyro meat should last about 2-3 months. This gives you plenty of time to use it all up without any sort of leftovers.
Why Do I Need to Slice the Gyro Meat?
You need to slice the gyro meat to ensure that the temperature is even for every part of it. If you do not slice the meat, you are left with a clump with uneven temperature, which is not only bad for it but also much harder to thaw. Furthermore, by slicing it, you can take out only some at a time without risking the other slices of meat being exposed to external factors.
How Can I Thaw or Reheat Gyro Meat?
The best way to thaw or reheat your gyro meat is through a microwave. You can cover it with plastic wrap and thaw it at medium heat at 15-second intervals.
Alternatively, you may use an oven or air fryer to thaw the gyro meat as well. Just follow the same method above, except you can leave it at higher temperatures.
Can I Reheat Gyro Meat More than Once?
No, you cannot. Once you have reheated it, it should be consumed immediately because it is already exposed to external factors. Hence, this is also one of the reasons that they need to be sliced so you do not have to reheat them all at once.
Conclusion
Storing gyro meat is quite easy; you can make it last for as long as three months if done properly. Just follow our guide above, and you should be able to stock up on gyro meat.
Instead of stocking up on gyro meat, you can just go to a gyro spot like George’s Gyros Spot. Located in Chesterton, we serve Chicago dogs, Italian beef, gyros, polish dogs, and cheeseburgers—all for affordable prices! Book a table with us to try it all out at George’s Gyros Spot, one of the best Chesterton restaurants.