Summertime & Cold Shipping Challenges

Summer is one of our favorite times of year here at Dutch Meadows. The days are long, the grill is fired up, and we are gathering around good food. We want to make sure that when you order from us, the only thing you are thinking about is how good that grass-fed beef is going to taste.

Flash Frozen Meat & Summer Shipping: 

What Is Flash Freezing?

 Unlike a standard home freezer that slowly brings food down to 0°F over several hours, commercial freezers are kept at minus 10 degrees to get product to a frozen state much quicker.

Why Partial Thawing Happens During Summer Shipping

Cold shipping in warm weather is a logistics challenge. Even with dry ice, gel packs, and insulated packaging, the summer heat is relentless. A package sitting on a porch in 90°F weather for a few hours is going to experience some temperature gain.

The good news is that we design our packaging to keep product cold for a reasonable delivery window, not necessarily to keep it rock solid, even beyond the normal 2 days. Arriving cool to the touch, even partially thawed on the outside is usually perfectly okay. If you are unsure, use a probe or infrared thermometer to confirm that it is below 40°F.

Why Partial Thawing Is Safe

Here's the key principle: time and temperature together determine safety, not either one alone.

The USDA's food safety guidelines tell us that meat can safely remain in the 28°F–40°F range for several days. The danger zone for bacterial growth is 40°F–140°F — and even then, it takes time for bacteria to multiply to harmful levels. A piece of flash frozen meat that arrives partially thawed but still cold (below 40°F) has not entered a danger zone at all.

Because flash frozen meat starts from a pristine, bacteria-minimized state, often processed and frozen within hours of butchering, it actually has more of a safety buffer than fresh meat that has been slowly moving through a supply chain for days.

A good rule of thumb: If the meat still has ice crystals in the center, or feels cold and firm throughout, it is safe to refreeze or cook immediately.

Smoked Meats

Smoked meats will thaw even quicker than non-smoked, due to that lack of moisture from smoking. This is perfectly safe as long as it is still below 40°F.

What To Do When Your Order Arrives Partially Thawed

1. Check the temperature. If it's cold to the touch (below 40°F), you're in good shape
2. Smell it. Fresh, high-quality meat shouldn't have any off odors — trust your nose.
3. Cook it or refreeze it. If you're not cooking immediately, pop it in the freezer. Refreezing flash frozen meat that hasn't fully thawed is safe and won't significantly affect quality.
4. When in doubt, reach out. Our customer service is more than happy to provide recommendations when it comes to our products. 

Our Promise.

We pride ourselves with providing you with absolutely the best around, regardless if you are concerned about the the animal's diet, the processing, or the final product, We Promise;

• No vaccines
• No Soy or Corn
• GMO free
• No antibiotics or hormones
• Customer satisfaction or your money back.