What is the shelf life cryo-vac pork belly

[mrad]

I have read that Costcos cryo-vac brisket can wet age 30+ days. What is the shelf life for the cry-vac pork belly??

 

[thirdeye]

You can wet age a cryo brisket if: 1) you know the kill date (this is printed on the case-boxes themselves), and 2) you select the brisket from the walk-in cooler stock, not from the meat case (it's usually about 38°), and 3) your refrigerator is in the 27° to 30° range.

The same will apply to a pork belly, but I don't think you will get the same advantage as you do for brisket. Now if you just want to buy bellies on sale tomorrow and then cook or cure in a couple of weeks, this will be fine. Freezing a belly is fine too, just slow thaw when you get ready to use them.

 

[mneeley490]

I wouldn't advise wet-aging pork. To me, it's like chicken and should be used as fresh as possible. I've had a few cryo packages of ribs with bad odors when I cut them open, that I've either tossed or brought back to the store.