By: Irshad Ahmad Shah
As the crescent moon marked the arrival of Eid al-Adha a few days back, the valleys and towns of Kashmir came alive with the sacred spirit of sacrifice. This Eid, known locally as Bakr Eid, or Baed Eid is not just a celebration of faith, but also of generosity, community, and shared meals. In almost every home, mutton and beef flow in abundance —distributed among relatives, the needy, and stored for future consumption. However, with such a massive scale of animal sacrifice in a short span, a critical question arises: how do we preserve this precious meat safely, efficiently, and without waste? Faith, Food, and Responsibility.
The Eid Meat Rush: A Delicate Challenge
Each year, thousands of animals are sacrificed across Kashmir during Eid, often within a span of 24–48 hours. That’s a logistical and environmental challenge. Refrigerators and freezers overflow. Power cuts are frequent. Awareness around proper meat handling, hygiene, and long-term storage remains inconsistent. Meat, especially red meat like mutton and beef, is highly perishable. Rich in protein and moisture, it’s a perfect breeding ground for bacteria if not handled properly. The result- Spoilage, foodborne illnesses, and tragic wastage of what was meant to be a sacred offering!
In a time when food wastage and overconsumption are global issues, Islamic teachings on meat preservation during Eid serve as a beautiful balance of spiritual intent and practical action. The Quran and Hadith not only instruct Muslims how to sacrifice, but also how to handle, store, and share the meat with dignity. The core values are: Gratitude for Allah’s blessing, Careful distribution for social equity, Hygienic and respectful handling, and Avoidance of waste.
Hadith on Division of Sacrificial Meat narrated by Salman bin `Amir Ad-Dabbi (RA): “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, Eat of it (sacrificial meat), and feed the needy and store some. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 68, Hadith 480). This hadith explicitly allows meat preservation — storing meat for personal use is permissible and encouraged, as long as one also shares. Surah Al-An’am (6:141) — On Avoiding Waste (Israf) “And do not waste (resources), for Allah does not love the wasters (Surah Al-An’am 6:141). This verse is a principle for meat preservation — Islam encourages avoiding spoilage, hoarding, or careless disposal.
- Before the First Cut: Hygiene Starts at Slaughter
Everything begins at the moment of sacrifice. Healthy Animal: Ensure the animal is visibly healthy. Slaughtering sick animals risks not only spoilage but disease transmission (zoonoses). Clean Tools: Knives, cutting boards, and even the person performing the sacrifice must be clean. Wash tools with hot water and disinfectant. Blood Drainage: Proper bleeding is essential. Blood speeds up spoilage and attracts bacteria.
- Cooling and Sorting: Time Is Temperature
One of the biggest mistakes is rushing meat into the refrigerator or freezer while it’s still warm. This traps heat, creating condensation that invites bacterial growth. Best Practice: Spread meat in thin layers. Let it rest for 4–6 hours in a shaded, cool place. Avoid stacking. Airflow is crucial. Then comes sorting — a critical, often overlooked step. Separate meat into: Daily-use portions (for the next 3–5 days). Long-term portions (for freezing). Organ meats (to be consumed within 24 hours). Scientific Insight: Bacterial growth doubles every 20 minutes at room temperature. Keeping meat within the 4°C “safe zone” of refrigeration is vital.
- Refrigeration and Freezing: The Modern Pillars
Refrigeration (0–4°C): Store meat for up to 3–5 days. Keep it in clean, lidded containers — not open plates. Avoid overcrowding; it reduces cooling efficiency. Freezing (-18°C and below): Extends shelf life for 3–6 months. Use airtight bags to prevent “freezer burn”. Label everything with date and portion size. Combo Method: Freeze in small quantities, ideally enough for one meal. This avoids thawing large chunks repeatedly, which ruins both taste and safety.
- Beyond the Fridge: Traditional Methods Reimagined
In areas with erratic electricity, traditional preservation still has its place.
- Sun-Drying slice meat into long, thin strips. Marinate with salt, turmeric, chili, garlic, and vinegar. Hang under a mosquito-net canopy in dry, shaded areas. Ready in 3–5 days depending on weather. Modern Twist: Use a solar drying box (a DIY model with mesh trays inside a reflective wooden box). It improves hygiene and speeds up drying.
- Pickling in Oil and Spices: Partially fry meat in mustard oil. Add generous amounts of turmeric, garlic, and dry ginger. Store in sterilized glass jars, topped with more hot oil. Lasts several weeks outside refrigeration. These methods are time-tested, and studies confirm that salt, acid, and drying effectively inhibit bacterial growth and lipid oxidation, extending shelf life without compromising safety
- Clean Meat, Clean Hands, Clean Home
Preserving meat safely is not just about temperature; it’s about total hygiene. Handwashing: Use soap and hot water before and after handling meat. Sanitizing Surfaces: Regularly disinfect cutting boards, knives, and countertops. Cross-Contamination: Never mix raw meat with cooked items or vegetables. Kashmiri Reality Check: A study in Srinagar found that while 90% of households practice some hygiene, only half are aware of proper disposal methods or safe meat handling beyond storage (Ayman et al., 2023).
- Eco-Conscious Disposal
With so much meat comes a lot of waste — bones, fat, offal. Improper disposal is not just unhygienic, it’s a public health threat. Do’s: Use municipal bins if available. Compost non-meat waste if space allows. Consider a separate pit for burial of inedible parts.
Don’t: Dump waste in rivers, drains, or open fields. Leave it exposed to animals.
Educating the Masses: The Role of Mosques and Media: Information is power. During Friday sermons leading up to Eid, imams can educate communities about: Meat handling, Safe preservation, Ethical disposal
Community Freezer Banks: A Practical Solution
Not everyone has the capacity to store 10–20 kg of meat at home. One solution gaining traction is the idea of Community Freezer Banks. Groups of 10–15 households pool funds to rent or buy a large deep freezer. A designated caretaker manages access. Cuts waste and ensures long-term supply for all members.
Final Thoughts: Preserving the Blessing: Eid al-Adha is a festival of faith, sacrifice, and sustenance. But to truly honour the qurbani, we must respect the meat we receive not just by cooking it deliciously, but by storing it safely, sharing it wisely, and wasting none of it. By blending traditional Kashmiri wisdom with scientific knowledge, every household from the modest village home to the modern Srinagar flat can become a model of hygiene, efficiency, and responsibility this Eid. Let this year not just be about what we sacrifice — but how well we preserve.
The writer is a Research Scholar at Pondicherry University in the Department of Food Science and Technology can be reached at [email protected]
