You need to do this safely, though.įirst, if you are working with soup, stew, or a large dish, divide into smaller portions. Plus, if food is too hot when you put it in the freezer, other foods may start to thaw out. Steam is not friendly to frozen food-it ends up turning into ice crystals. If you let hot food cool down, you can ensure that you’re not trapping steam inside the packaging. This is why vacuum sealers have become so popular in recent years. If you aren’t squeezing the air out of your freezer bags before you stick them in the freezer, you’re setting yourself up for early freezer burn.
Watch for Trapped AirĪir is the enemy of frozen foods. While they’re more expensive, you’ll save money in the long run by not throwing out freezer-burned food. Only use bags, jars, and containers that are labeled for freezer use. The same is true for regular plastic bags. Air will end up getting in, and they’re just too thin to protect against the cold. While it may be tempting to reuse grocery store packaging to freeze foods, these types of containers aren’t up to the task. Not all food storage containers are designed for freezer use. Freezer-safe containers are made of thicker plastic or glass. If you have a regular butcher that you purchase raw meat from, ask if they can wrap your order in freezer paper. There are specific steps you should take to repackage foods for the freezer to ensure they last as long as possible. Freezer paper or a freezer bag is much better suited for the job. The thin cellophane used to wrap meat isn’t thick enough to keep air from getting in. Remove foods from their store packaging if you don’t plan to use the food right away-especially when it comes to meat, poultry, and fish.
#Freezer burn chicken how to
How to Avoid Freezer BurnĪ few simple precautions will help to avoid freezer burn in the future, ensuring your frozen foods will be in peak condition when you’re ready to use them. Pay attention to how long foods have been in the freezer to ensure they are eaten at their peak and follow these tips to avoid freezer burn. 1 If the food has an off smell upon defrosting, discard it. Note that while freezer burn on its own does not make food unsafe to eat, foods that are frozen under improper conditions can still go bad.
If the freezer burn is extensive, it’s best to toss the food and learn from your mistakes.
Severely freezer-burned food will have an off taste that is especially noticeable in raw foods. 1įreezer burn may not make food unsafe to eat, but it can affect the taste, texture, and color. Regardless, if freezer burn is the only problem, the food will still be safe to eat. If certain sections have more severe freezer burn than others, you can cut these parts away before cooking. If your food only has light freezer burn and you plan to cook it thoroughly, then defrost it properly and use as planned. Improperly wrapped food or a malfunctioning freezer could be the culprits. If you find that your frozen foods are developing freezer burn sooner than that, it’s time to do a bit of investigating to root out the cause. 1 However, since freezer burn often affects the flavor and texture of food, you may not want to consume food with severe freezer burn.Īll foods get freezer burn eventually, but most properly stored foods should maintain their quality in the freezer for six months to a year. Is it safe to eat freezer-burned food? The quick answer is yes. Freezer burn is simply the result of air coming into contact with food, and while it may not look appetizing, it is usually safe to eat. The thought of this once tasty and delectable bird cooking in your frying pan is enough to throw your appetite, but maybe you shouldn’t let it go? The Ultimate Guide to Freezer-Burned Food Safety And How to Prevent It We all have that frozen or thawed out chicken that’s started to get freezer burn.
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