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In order to know if something is okay to consume, you must first know what it is. Freezer burn is simply the process of an item losing moisture in the freezer. As this process happens the moisture that was in the food item seeps out and forms ice crystals on the food itself. With meat, you may notice some discoloration or dry patches.

Chicken might take on a whiter pink tone, or the bones may become darker. For beef, you might notice that the bright-red color turns dark or pale brown if it's been stored for a long time.

But while it might not be super appealing — and the texture or taste might not be up to your standards — freezer burn is 100 percent safe to eat. According to the USDA, eating freezer burn does not put you at risk for any food-borne illness or issues.

The biggest thing you will want to know how to do is to defrost the food properly.

While freezer burn alone cannot make foods unsafe to eat, the way you defrost them can. The only USDA-approved way to thaw frozen foods is in the refrigerator, where it can be kept at a safe temperature, or in the microwave if you are cooking it immediately afterward.

It's nice to know that all that meat that gets freezer burned will now not go to waste!

Do you have any tips or tricks on how to defrost freezer burned meat? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: The Kitchen