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@weedy, I see you use a cooking rack (like this). I also note that you place the rack so that it is open at the top. (I have the open part on the side). How do you keep the meat packets under water?

@KennethT, thanks. What "issues", other than freezer burn, occur?

I have an unanswered question on the "Cook your way through your freezer" thread here so I thought to rephrase the question more generally (and widely). Reading on eGullet and elsewhere, it seems that meat frozen before cooking lasts 12-18 months, after cooking it lasts 12 months. Why is that? I mean, why not 5 years? Many recipes for baked goods (like bread) say they're good for 3 months. What happens to bread in the freezer which doesn't happen to a cut of meat? There are many soups in my freezer which have not been vacuum sealed which have been there a long time. I don't think there has been a degredation in flavour. But I admit, I'm not expecting one, so it's not so surprising that I don't find one. (I do recognize a big loss of flavour after about 3 weeks, but not so much between 3 months and 23 months).

Please explain, rotuts.

Paul, you realise that you're being tantalising with your descriptions, doncha? 🙃 C'mon, fess up, what's in it?

Paul, looks interesting. What is it?

Ha! @chefmd. Here's mine: Marinated buttermilk for 24 hours. Mine, however, was awful (really chewy). Not sure why.

@Okanagancook, I guess I didn't phrase my question well. What I really want to know is why not 5 years? Why is the cutoff at 12 or 18 months? Note that many recipes for baked goods (like bread) say they're good for 3 months. What happens to bread in the freezer which doesn't happen to a cut of meat?

I've not caught up with this thread (still have several pages to go), so I hope this question has not been resolved already. Many sites/writers state that a food will last 12 (or 18) months once frozen. Is this just a commonly held "wives-tale" or is there a basis for this "expiry date"? I ask because I have vacuum sealed cuts of fresh meat, some of which have I've not used for 12 (or quite a few more) months past the "1 year expiry date". There are many soups in my freezer which have not been vacuum sealed which have been there a long time. I don't think there has been a degredation in flavour. But I admit, I'm not expecting one, so it's not so surprising that I don't find one. So what's the story? And if anyone knows, surely it will be the folks on eGullet! 😀

Looks delish. What's in it?

Well, I now have more questions than answers! Any suggestions where I could go to read about hams? (I haven't heard a peep from Edwards Virginia Smokehouse, though a wonderful smelling ham showed up via UPS today). 🙄

Thanks, @heidih. What's the difference between juicy, Smithfield or country ham?

@kayb, what's in the salad?

@ElsieD, how long for? And do you put anything else in the bag?

From my local university meat market (they raise the meat), I've bought a Valentine's special cooked Ham For Two (2.25 lbs) for about $7. From Edwards Virginia Smokehouse, for President's Day, I bought a special (50% off) Cooked Boneless Wigwam Ham (4.5 to 5.5 lbs) for $80. I like ham a lot and intend to do some testing. However, searching the internet (and eGullet) produces instructions to roast ham for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a 350F oven or so (coated with honey or mustard or other interesting stuff). Should one even be roasting a cooked meat? My experience with sous vide suggests that reheating meat tends to dry it out. What gives?