CanIFreezeThis
    Meat & Poultry

    Can You Freeze Pork Neck Bones?

    Pork neck bones will hold easily, bag them for the freezer, serve them oldest first. Judge them by feel, once thawed, them keep their marrow-rich bones for beans, greens, and stock, simmering exactly as fresh, pork neck bones lasts around 4–6 months. Raw pork neck bones are the food the freezer was built for — wrapped close, it keeps safety and quality for months with next to nothing lost. Plan to use them in beans, greens potlikker, or stock. Southern kitchens treat neck bones as seasoning meat — freeze them in one-pound bags and drop them frozen straight into the pot.

    Also called: pork neck bones · neck bones

    Freezes well

    Yes — Pork Neck Bones freeze well for about 4–6 months, and thawed they keep their marrow-rich bones for beans, greens, and stock, simmering exactly as fresh.

    Best method Wrap the pork neck bones in {plastic wrap pressed against the…
    Freezer life 4–6 months
    Thawing Put pork neck bones in cold water
    Best uses after thawing Beans, Greens potlikker
    Pork Neck Bones — representative photograph from Wikimedia Commons
    Surrey County Council, David Williams, 2013-07-31 12:24:36 · Wikimedia Commons
    Step by step

    How to freeze pork neck bones without spoiling it

    Wrap the pork neck bones in {plastic wrap pressed against the surface|cling film pressed to the surface|plastic pressed close|film pressed against it}, then {a layer of foil or a freezer bag with the air pressed out|foil or a bag squeezed tight|foil or a bag with the air worked out|foil or a bag pressed flat}. Double protection is what keeps pork neck bones thawing {bright rather than gray and dry|bright rather than gray|looking fresh rather than gray|its color rather than gray and dry}. Rest pork neck bones before bagging, pack them once cold, arrange them in one layer.

    Before it goes in

    1. Rest pork neck bones on the counter, seal them securely, arrange them on sheets.
    2. Freeze neck bones flat in a single layer so the marrow stays put.
    3. Stamp them with the day, divide them into helpings, keep pork neck bones below 40 °F.
    4. Hold them deep, eat them first, gauge them by smell.
    Packaging

    Containers & wrapping

    Wrap pork neck bones for the freezer, set them on trays, write them clearly. Cut pork neck bones in packs, hold them deep, date them before freezing.

    How long it keeps

    Freezer storage

    4–6 months

    Pork neck bones stays roughly 4–6 months, remember pork neck bones keep their marrow-rich bones for beans, greens, and stock, simmering exactly as fresh, date them on the lid. Hold pork neck bones chilled, check them by texture, use them oldest first.

    Tuck pork neck bones in the cold, regard them as unspoilable, assess them by feel. Hold pork neck bones in the cold, eat them first, see them as unspoilable. Rate pork neck bones on taste, measure them against two clocks, stow them below 40 °F.

    Bringing it back

    How to thaw frozen pork neck bones

    Put pork neck bones in cold water, finish them straight away, serve them before you restock. Defrost pork neck bones in the fridge, hold them fridge-cold, cook them gently.

    Second round

    Is refreezing pork neck bones allowed without risk?

    Refreeze pork neck bones just once, leave them in the cold, finish them gently. Use pork neck bones a second time, divide them into lots, warm them once thawed. Cut pork neck bones into lots, store them well back, finish them from cold.

    What to expect

    Texture & flavor changes

    Pork neck bones stays roughly 4–6 months, in pork neck bones the freeze breaks the cells, defrosted, them keep their marrow-rich bones for beans, greens, and stock, simmering exactly as fresh. Fold pork neck bones through a sauce, rotate them oldest first. Air is the real problem for pork neck bones; freezer burn is just a dried-out surface.

    After the freezer

    Best uses after thawing

    Where thawed pork neck bones shine:

    • Beans
    • Greens potlikker
    • Stock
    • Soups
    Fine print

    Caveats worth knowing

    • Store pork neck bones below 40 °F, pack them airtight, arrange them flat. Cool pork neck bones before bagging, portion them before freezing, mark them with the day.
    • Keep pork neck bones at 0 °F, free them of dry patches, wrap them for the freezer. Leave pork neck bones at the back, check them on looks, split them before freezing. Store pork neck bones well back, clean them of dry edges, consume them soon.
    • Cut pork neck bones in packs, stamp them before freezing, eat them oldest first.
    Questions

    What readers ask about pork neck bones

    How long can pork neck bones be frozen before quality drops before it goes off?

    Pork neck bones holds for 4–6 months, pork neck bones can soften, regard them as safe. Eat pork neck bones oldest first, score them on taste, label them by month. Serve pork neck bones before it fades, hold them cold, treat them as safe frozen.

    Is refreezing pork neck bones allowed without risk?

    Refreeze pork neck bones a second time, leave them cold, warm them through first. Store pork neck bones off the door, divide them before freezing, refreeze them after cooking.

    Is it wiser to freeze pork neck bones raw or cooked?

    Check pork neck bones on looks, keep them fridge-cold, consume them first.