Frequently Asked Questions

Below are several common questions we receive about food safety, pork buying and preparation. For questions not answered here, please contact us.

Shopping

  • What should I look for when I shop for pork?
    • Refrigerated meats should be cold, and frozen meats should be solid.
    • Don't buy meats with torn, bulging, dented or cracked packaging.
    • Buy before the "use by" or "sell by" date on the package.
    • Buy cold meat last and refrigerate immediately.
  • What does the "use by" or "sell by" date on the package mean?
    • The product is safe to eat before this date as long as the package is unopened and has been kept refrigerated.
    • No matter what the date states, once opened, the product is only safe to eat for 5 to 7 days.
  • Where can I find Farmland products in my area?

Cooking

Food Storage

  • What's the best way to store fresh pork before cooking?
    • Wrap meats in plastic or place in plastic food storage bag to prevent dripping.
    • Store meats on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator where food stays coldest and dripping meat juice will not contaminate other foods.
    • Uncooked pork will store 2 to 4 days refrigerated, unless the "use by" date states longer.
    • Freeze meat you won't be using in the next few days.
    • Keep your refrigerator at 40oF or below.
  • How do I properly wrap my fresh pork to keep it in the freezer?
    • Use specially coated freezer paper (wax side against the meat), heavy-duty aluminum foil, heavy-duty polyethylene film or heavy-duty plastic bags.
    • Rewrap pork in convenient portions: Leave roasts whole, place chops in meal-size packages, shape ground pork into patties. Put a double layer of waxed paper between chops and patties. Cover sharp bones with extra paper so the bones do not pierce the wrapping.
    • Wrap the meat tightly, pressing as much air out of the package as possible.
    • Label with the name of the pork cut and date.
    • Store uncooked frozen pork for 3 to 6 months, depending on the product.
    • Keep your freezer at 0oF or below.
  • What about freezing ham?
    • Farmland Spiral Cut Hams and Skinless Shankless Hams freeze very well for 3 to 6 months. Make sure they are tightly wrapped to prevent freezer burn.
    • Freezing water added hams or ham and water products will reduce the quality of the product. The additional water will expand during freezing and break the meat cell structure, causing the ham to be rubberlike when eating.
    • Leftover ham of any kind works well in soups or casseroles. Cut ham into slices or cubes and store in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
  • I have leftovers from a big roast. How long can I keep them?
    • Leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator within 1 to 2 hours of serving. Store cooked leftovers in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
    • Well-wrapped leftovers can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Can pork be refrozen if it has thawed?
    • According to the USDA, food thawed in the refrigerator is safe to refreeze without cooking. Moisture loss during thawing may cause a loss in taste quality. After cooking raw food that was previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked food.
  • How long can I store pork products in the refrigerator and the freezer?
    • Unopened Farmland products can be stored in the refrigerator until the "use by" date.
    • Once opened, all Farmland products stored in the refrigerator should be used within 5 to 7 days.
    • Farmland products can be stored in a deep-freezer (-10oF) for up to 6 months.
    • Farmland products may be stored in a refrigerator freezer (0oF) for 2 to 3 months.

Food Safety

  • What steps can I take to ensure food safety while preparing meat?
  • What about trichinosis?
    • Although trichinae are virtually nonexistent in pork today because of feeding practices, it is killed at 136oF, well below the recommended 155oF end cooking temperature for pork.
  • Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning?
    • No. If a food has been left in the "Danger Zone", between 40oF and 140oF, for more than 2 hours, discard it, even though it may look and smell good.
    • Never taste a food to see if it is spoiled. It is always best to use the rule "When in doubt, throw it out."
  • Is it safe to eat the product if I have stored it in the refrigerator, it is past the "use by" date and I haven't opened the package?
    • No. The "use by" date means that the product is safe to eat up until that date. It may or may not still be good, but there is no real way of knowing. Remember: When in doubt, throw it out!
  • How should I thaw my frozen pork item?
    • Always thaw products in the refrigerator-never on the counter!
    • Some items may be thawed in the microwave. Check the microwave manufacturer's instructions for details. Once thawed in the microwave, make sure to fully cook pork immediately.
  • How long is my lunchmeat or bacon safe to eat after I have opened the package?
    • Once you have opened the package, plan to eat lunchmeat, hot dogs, ham, smoked sausage and bacon within 5 to 7 days. Store the meat tightly wrapped in a sealed container in the coldest part of your refrigerator.

Ingredients

  • Do Farmland products contain gluten?
    • Spice formulations from our suppliers and secondary suppliers can change from time to time and still be correct under USDA labeling requirements. Because of this, along with the possibility of cross-contamination from the secondary suppliers to our own main ingredients, we cannot absolutely guarantee that any of our products will be gluten-free.
    • Farmland Foods does offer a new line of All Natural Process Verified fresh pork. The "All Natural" is stated on the label, along with no antibiotic growth promotants, no added hormones, no artificial ingredients and minimal processing. While it does not have a gluten-free guarantee on the label, perhaps you can better evaluate if this fits into your diet plan.
  • What is the difference between Farmland Simply Natural Pork and Farmland All Natural Pork?
    • While similar, Simply Natural pork has two distinct differences from All Natural Pork:
      • Never ever given antibiotics by any means.
      • Fed only vegetarian feed (except for milk and egg products crucial for early development)
    • Both tender, great-tasting products are U.S. Source Verified.
      • Contain no added hormones
      • Contain no artificial ingredients
      • Receive no antibiotic growth promotants
    • Additionally, all Simply Natural and All Natural products have on-farm programs that verify:
      • Genetics
      • Antibiotic usage
      • Good production practices