How to Store Food in the Freezer
We have all heard about fixing an extra lasagna and putting it in the freezer for a rainy day, and, many of us have done it. Did we do it correctly in order to maintain its highest quality? Freezing can be one of the best ways to preserve a food's freshness. Here are a few steps to follow when attempting to store food in the freezer. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Skip the seasonings. Wait until you are warming the dish to serve it to add all flavorings. Black pepper, cloves, onion and garlic's influences on the taste of the food gets stronger during freezer storage. Some other seasonings are prone to weakening while being stored in the freezer.
-
2
Cook your food only partially. Foods cooked to the well-done stage don't maintain a high quality when frozen.
-
-
3
Keep your freezer cold. The higher the temperature of your freezer, the more quickly your food quality will decrease. Keep your freezer at 0 degrees.
-
4
Package your food correctly in order to store it in the freezer. Only moisture and vapor-proof materials should be used for freezing. This includes heavy-duty aluminum foil, polyethylene bags, freezer film wraps, glass, plastic and metal containers. When freezing meats from your local grocery store, overwrap these packages with an advised material before attempting to store in your freezer. The shrink wrap put on at the store allows air to enter the package and will only protect your meat for two weeks and then freezer burn will occur.
-
5
Manage your freezer to maintain maximum freezing quality. In order to use you freezer to its highest potential, keep it fully-stocked. This helps it maintain a cooler overall temperature, ensuring better food storage abilities.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Fried or broiled meats do not keep as well as stews.
Mayonnaise does not freeze as well as salad dressing.
Hard-boiled eggs don't freeze well. The whites get tough and rubbery.
Cream-style sweet corn maintains its flavor better when frozen than other types of corn.
Quality changes with refreezing food. Noticeable differences can be found in the texture of the food when thawed.
