Forums39
Topics39,140
Posts317,260
Members26,624
|
Most Online2,995 Sep 3rd, 2024
|
|
12 registered members (George1234, BarbyandLeo, Fred, SXMScubaman, BillDauterive, tradewinds, eightzerobits, marybeth, duckfat, 3 invisible),
1,644
guests, and 317
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: GettinBye]
#307945
11/01/2023 02:18 PM
11/01/2023 02:18 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,711 Memphis, BVI, CT
RatmansWife
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,711
Memphis, BVI, CT
|
If you freeze the steaks hard and pack them in a Solar Bear cooler they should be good for 24 hours. If you make it your carry-on or personal item you know it will arrive with you; checked luggage can be delayed. There is no issue with bringing them into the BVI, just declare and pay duty.
Steakation Butchers is currently closed while they move from Waterfront Drive to Wickham's, the road leading to the Moorings.
Last edited by RatmansWife; 11/01/2023 02:19 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: RatmansWife]
#307960
11/01/2023 03:34 PM
11/01/2023 03:34 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 945 Georgia & South Carolina
Deepcut
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 945
Georgia & South Carolina
|
As Batman's Wife stated... I believe she meant Polar Bear Cooler. We use a 24 can Polar bear cooler and freeze out steaks and other meat, already seasoned and Vac Packed. We travel from ATL and sometimes overnight in transit. No need for DrY Ice (Although up to 5 pounds is allowed). Pack tight and minimal airspace and it will remain frozen for 24 hr plus trip. We season, Vac-Pack, load into polar Bear cooler laying on its side, and place entire cooler in freezer. Thus no airspaces between packs of meat. Polar Bear Coolers https://polarbearcoolers.com/products/original-24-pack-soft-cooler. Frequently we find them on sale, but ours have lasted over 7 years with 6 plus BVI trips each year.
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: RatmansWife]
#307971
11/01/2023 06:02 PM
11/01/2023 06:02 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,189
MIDiver
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,189
|
Batman? Were that the case we'd be driving a much cooler car than our 1973 Rover! I meant Solar Bear - for awhile they made that model, which supposedly kept things frozen for a day on a boat in the sun. One tip is to stuff it with ice packs the day before you put your meat in. It cools down the insulation and helps keep the meat frozen longer. We have a Polar Bear Solar Bear. It is amazing. It is also waterproof. I really wish they would bring these models back.
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: GettinBye]
#307994
11/01/2023 11:27 PM
11/01/2023 11:27 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141 Brookline, Massachusetts and M...
Fitzhughlaw
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141
Brookline, Massachusetts and M...
|
GettinBye, I’ll be staying right next door to you at Mahoe from January 1-12, so PM me about getting together if those include your dates. I’m an inveterate (and finicky) steak guy and bring them down on occasion, and have done a lot of research on the subject of freezing, etc., so wanted to weigh in on the subject, and just augment the great advice you’ve already obtained from other posters about packing a cooler.
First of all, what I’ll add is that if you vacuum seal and then freeze the steaks, you need not worry about them going bad in 24 hours, even if they fully thaw out as long as they stay below 42 degrees; in fact, you’re likely good for 36 hours if you pack the cooler properly. As an aside, one myth is that you cannot safely consume steaks that have thawed and then been frozen again - but it’s just not true; if they are vacuum-sealed, you can do that without fear of the meat posing a health risk. All of the companies that sell high-end steak online plan for them to be in some state of thaw by the time they reach a consumer, and here’s a good mini-treatise on that subject of defrosting and refreezing, among others: Refreezing Thawed Meat Properly | Steak University (mychicagosteak.com).
Moreover, given your timetable, even if your steaks have fully thawed by the time you get to VG, they will probably have defrosted safely because it will have occurred slowly and in a chamber that likely has not exceeded that threshold of 42 degrees. Because vacuum-sealed steaks will last two weeks in the refrigerator even after they have fully thawed, you’ll be fine even if you want to save some of them for consumption toward the end of your stay.
The proper vacuum sealing is crucial, and if your butcher has a Cry-O-Vac™ or similar machine, have him or her do it for you. Otherwise, if you don’t want to purchase a home appliance for future use ($40-$80 on Amazon), see if you can borrow one from a friend and use theirs. MAF
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: GettinBye]
#308009
11/02/2023 07:38 AM
11/02/2023 07:38 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,154 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,154
GA/NC
|
I buy one of the smallest cheap coolers you can get. The lunch size ones about 12” by 10”. Pack it solid with meats and then freeze the entire cooler. Pull it out of freezer when we leave and steaks are always fine. Checked bag lost once and steaks were still good 36 hours later. I do tape it shut.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 11/02/2023 07:39 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: GettinBye]
#308031
11/02/2023 09:47 AM
11/02/2023 09:47 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,711 Memphis, BVI, CT
RatmansWife
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,711
Memphis, BVI, CT
|
We have the 12 pack Solar Bear, which is 14"x12"x7", well within American Airlines size guidelines for a personal item (18"x14"x8"). The Polar Bear backpack would also work at 12"x7"x18". You might even get away with the 24 can at 10"x18"x12".
I have put my passport in the cooler outside zip pocket, and put everything else in my roll-aboard. The only problem I have encountered is security in San Juan, who made me unpack the whole thing, which was neatly assembled like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle - the one time we were on separate tickets and tight on time! Otherwise you are fine once you have cleared security at your home airport.
|
|
|
Re: Quick question on meats
[Re: Cleobeach]
#308205
11/03/2023 08:54 PM
11/03/2023 08:54 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141 Brookline, Massachusetts and M...
Fitzhughlaw
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141
Brookline, Massachusetts and M...
|
Cleo, afraid not. Back to Boston on January the 11th (ugh) and then back to VG in mid-February. If you're around from then until late March, give me a shout. ![banana banana](/images/graemlins/default/banana.gif) PS: Got a good chuckle out of your San Juan story....
Last edited by Fitzhughlaw; 11/03/2023 08:57 PM.
|
|
|
|