What Can You Do With Frozen Gyro Meat?

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An iconic food that represents Greek cuisine, the gyro is enjoyed by millions Worldwide. The classic gyro is served in a toasted pita filled with thinly sliced lamb, beef, or both. It is then topped with a selection of salads like lettuce, tomato, red onion, and tzatziki sauce.

The gyro is favored for its simplicity in making new enjoyable recipes with a variety of condiments and sauces. With some extra spices at hand, making your own gyro recipe is a fun process that allows you to be creative.

Is Frozen Gyro Meat Already Cooked?

In most cases, gyro meat is pre-cooked before being frozen. So as long as you keep your frozen gyro meat below 40° F, you ensure its safety from any bacteria in the air. 

It is worth noting that you can freeze your gyro because the pita freezes excellently well too. So just imagine homemade gyros for that meaty midweek meal. All you would have to do is make a little salad, and dinner is done!

 

What’s The Best Way To Cook Frozen Gyro Meat?

You have two choices when it comes to cooking frozen gyro meat. The safest way to simply defrost your frozen meat is in the fridge for 24 hours. However, if you need to speed up the defrosting process, you can put it in a sink of cold water. 

Alternatively, you can cook gyro meat straight from frozen. The meat thaws quickly, and as it is pre-cooked, you only need to throw it on the grill for a few minutes longer than if it was raw. 

You need to preheat your grill to a medium-high and place the gyro meat strips on the grill for around 5-8 minutes on each side. If you like your kitchen tools and happen to have a meat thermometer to hand, the internal temperature of the meat should reach 165°F.

 

Can You Bake Frozen Gyro Meat?

Although it is not a familiar way of cooking, you can indeed bake frozen gyro meat. 

Line a baking tray with a baking sheet, parchment paper, or aluminum foil, place the meat strips in a single layer and pop them into a preheated oven and bake for up to 20 minutes. 

Ensure the internal meat temperature meets the required 165°F if you still have that thermometer to hand. Ensure they are cooked long enough to brown. When removing the gyro meat from the oven, allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before serving. 

 

Which Spices Can You Use?

If you are after the traditional gyro flavor, you want to season the meat with salt and pepper as well as a mixture of garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and paprika. 

You can also marinate the meat to add more flavor before cooking. Again, the traditional gyro flavors would be marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. You could then add seasonings like oregano and thyme or get creative and try your own mixture. 

Gyro meat should already be loaded with flavor, so don’t worry about getting too adventurous with the spices, as you can easily overdo it here. 

 

What Are Some Popular Gyro Recipes?

Known as the ultimate Greek/American gyro sandwich, and can be made with beef, lamb, or chicken, whichever your tastebuds fancy. You could also do a combination with both beef and ground lamb. 

First, you want to chop some onion and mince garlic cloves using a food processor, a mixer, or good old-fashioned kneading with your hands. 

Once they’re mixed together, add your raw meat, some rosemary, salt, a teaspoon of ground cumin, 2-3 teaspoons of dried oregano, and finally, some black pepper. 

Add some crushed red pepper flakes or paprika if you want to add a little kick to your gyro. Combine all the ingredients and cook in the oven for 60-75 minutes. Look for that delightful golden brown coloring. 

 

Final Thoughts on What Can You Do With Frozen Gyro Meat

Whether you are sticking to a traditional gyro recipe or designing your own, one thing is for certain – frozen gyro meat is an excellent addition to any home freezer. 

Frozen gyro meat holds the juices you expect when you bite into the meat and the tenderness. With the mixture of classic meats and the crunch of fresh salad, gyros will remain a popular street-style food for years to come. 

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