Just got my first smoker

[jfkbengals]

(11-17-2021, 01:34 PM)MileHighGrowler Wrote: I always prefer fresh, but I've frozen ribs, roasts, briskets, pork butts, turkeys, chickens, tri-tip, etc. and as long as it's vacuum sealed and not in the freezer too long, I've never had an issue with the taste or texture.  Especially when smoking, there's usually some element of fat being added (butter, tallow) and moisture doesn't seem to be much of a problem.  But yes, if I could pick every time between fresh and frozen, I'd go fresh.  

100% true.

The biggest problem with meat that was frozen is finding a place for it to properly thaw completely in time for the smoking adventure.  I have a large upright freezer, so freezing meat is no problem.  But I only have one refrigerator which rarely has much room in it, so there generally has to be a cooler and ice packs involved with the thaw.