How Our New Packaging Keeps Meat Fresh

You probably don’t think too much about food packaging. It only takes a moment to rip off before you get to the (often literal) meat of the matter, after all. But here at FreshDirect, we do care about it. A lot. That’s because we’re obsessed with bringing groceries to you in the best possible condition and at the peak of freshness and quality.

So when it came to our ground beef offerings, we wanted to do something different packaging-wise that would maintain the high quality of the meat along every step of its journey from our facilities to your plate. We simply weren’t going to make any compromises on freshness, functionality, or taste.

After doing our research and considering all of our options, we landed on a packaging format that we think is truly groundbreaking. Our unique premium vacuum packaging combines the convenience of a tray with the freshness-enhancing qualities of vacuum-sealed plastics. This format is now available with our 100% Grass-Fed Local 80% and 90% grinds, as well as most of our local Angus burgers and grinds.

So what makes this packaging better than the other options? Meat packaged solely in vacuum-sealed plastic stays fresh longer because the oxygen is forced out. But it can be difficult to work with because it’s so densely packed. On the other end, meat in trays with cling wrap (like the ones you typically see at conventional grocery stores) looks nice and is easy to unpack, but it spoils much faster because there is always oxygen on the inside. Our new packaging has a tray on the bottom for easy use, but is also sealed in a way that keeps the oxygen out.

The one catch? Vacuum-sealed meat is a duller color and looks less attractive than that in standard packaging, although in actuality it’s much, much fresher. You see, the bright red color often associated with beef results from the presence of oxygen, which again, is what accelerates the spoiling process. Once you remove your beef from its packaging, it’ll begin to take on that brighter color as it’s exposed to oxygen in the air.

So if your beef looks a little strange, no need to fret. That’s just us doing everything we can to bring you the very best!