Storing your food in the freezer is always a handier go-to option. But, almost all of us have instances where we open the freezer, and our favorite dish is spoiled.
It might get on your nerves sometimes. Thus, you may want to inquire how to prevent freezer burn?
You can prevent freezer burns by wrapping your food securely in safety packaging. Use another layer of foil or plastic wrap to provide more safety to your food. Avoid overstuffing the freezer with many food items and leave some breathing space in between. You can also vacuum-seal your eatables to protect against freezer burn.
Freezer burns can be stubborn, and it is difficult to avoid them. This article will guide you in detail regarding how you should handle the food and stop it from having freezer burns.
Table of Contents
Freezer Burn: Why Does It Occur?
If you prefer storing food items in the freezer, you might have struggled with freezer burns. The cold air makes it difficult for the food to retain its freshness, turning it shriveled. This whole degradation process of the food inside the freezer is often known as freezer burns.
When food items get exposed to low temperatures for long durations, the result is often loss of moisture. All food contains water content which eventually converts into ice crystals once frozen.
The ice crystals make the food dehydrated, dry, and stiff. Thus, your favorite dish loses its former delicious taste and appears unpleasant. The freezer burn significantly alters the overall quality and texture of the food.
So, if you plan to keep your food for an extended time inside the freezer, you might prepare well to stop freezer burn. The longer it stays, the higher is the occurrence of freezer burns causing quality loss.
Simple Tips To Prevent Freezer Burns
You might be tired of wasting your food because of a freezer burn. It is often heart-wrenching to discard the meal you prepared by putting in so much time and effort.
Here are some tips that will help control the occurrence of freezer burns.
- Keep the temperature of your freezer at 0 degrees F or lower. Such low temperatures will let the food freeze faster and result in the formation of smaller ice crystals. As an outcome, it will minimize freezer burns.
- Always package your food well before popping them inside the freezer. Store it in freezer-friendly bags or Ziploc bags to reduce the contact with air. You can also wrap it in an additional layer of foil to keep it secure.
- Use vacuum-sealed containers/bags when freezing leftovers. Remove all the excess air from the bag with the help of a straw or vacuum sealer. It will help in preventing air contamination.
- Avoid constant opening and closing of the freezer. It causes the temperature to fluctuate and may result in the formation of ice crystals. Thus, open only when it is required.
- It is best to utilize your food as soon as possible to avoid freezer burns. No matter how much care you take, the food will ultimately suffer in quality if it stays for an extended period inside the freezer.
- Try to rotate the content of your freezer. This way, you will eat the oldest food first, decreasing the probability of freezer burns.
Can You Reverse Freezer Burn?
When your food is freezer burnt, there will be few visible signs like discoloration or white splotches. If you notice anything like this or similar, it is an indication that your food has undergone a quality loss.
You might want to reverse these adverse effects but, it is not possible. The food is still safe to consume and will cause no health issues. However, you will feel a change in the taste and texture.
If you do not intend to waste the food, remove the affected portions, utilizing the remaining in your cooking. You can also incorporate herbs in your dish to revive the lost natural flavors to some extent.
Thus, the easiest fix for your freezer burnt food is to combine it with the right ingredients. Just unleash your creative cooking skills and use your otherwise perfectly healthy food.
Is It Safe To Eat Freezer-Burned Food?
According to the food safety and inspection service(FSIS), it is safe to eat freezer burnt food. Freezer burn is a quality issue and not a food safety issue. It causes dry and discolored spots on the food, and it looks visibly unappetizing.
As recommended, cut off the affected areas before or after cooking the food. However, if a food item is heavily freezer-burnt, it is better to toss it. It won’t taste good since the quality is heavily compromised.
If you want to save your food and money’s worth, it is ideal to follow all the precautionary steps to minimize freezer burns. Also, try not to extend the freezer span of your food by more than two to three months. The earlier you use your food, the lower the chance of unnecessary food spoilage.
How To Prevent Freezer Burn On Meat?
Meat, like much other protein-based food, tends to perish rapidly. You have to be extra cautious while handling it to maintain the tenderness.
When meat gets freezer burned, it takes on a gray or brownish-gray color. Also, it might get a grainy texture and look dry and tough. Besides, it might taste bland and chewy.
Similarly, red meats like beef can turn dull red-brown, and you cannot use them to create a juicy steak. It is due to the oxygen in the nearby air pulling the flavors and color from the meat’s tissue.
Thus, to avoid this, you can easily prevent the meat from getting freezer burns. All you have to do is
Wrap your meat securely before placing it inside the freezer. Add two layers of packaging to ensure extra safety.
Do not let the meat stay in the frozen space for so long that a lot of moisture escapes. The rapid drying can lead to freezer burn.
How To Prevent Freezer Burn On Fish?
Fish is full of nutritional value and is beneficial for overall health. However, it might be a hassle to lock in all that rich flavors and protect them from freezer burns.
Vacuum-sealer can come in handy while storing perishable food items. They squeeze all the excess air out, decreasing the occurrence of any harm to your fish.
If you do not possess a vacuum sealer machine, you can use a straw to remove the air. Once you do that, place the fish pieces inside a safe corner of the freezer, and it will last you for a decent amount of time.
Another way to prevent your fish from freezer burn is by filling the storage bag with water. Once the fish is fully submerged, seal the top and place it inside the freezer. But, this technique works when you dip the whole fish in the water. The left parts might get freezer burns, and we do not want that.
How To Prevent Freezer Burn On Fruits?
Fruits generally have a high water content than other food items. For instance, strawberries are composed of ninety-one percent water which is a lot.
Thus, they are at a greater risk of getting ice crystals, leading to the formation of freezer burns. It leaves you with dried-out or sometimes soggy pieces. They have limited usage and are only suitable for smoothies or toppings.
To overcome this battle, avoid storing fruits for the long term. You can also flash-freeze soft fruits and lay them evenly on a tray. This step helps to stop the fruits from clumping against each other, which leads to freezer burns. It works well for all kinds of berries.
However, try to utilize your fruits when they are still fresh and intact and do not leave them unchecked in the freezer for months.
How To Prevent Freezer Burn On Vegetables?
Vegetables are a must in day-to-day life. It is why our freezers are always full of different varieties of vegetables. But, it can be a little challenging to maintain their freshness.
Cooked vegetables are at a higher risk of getting freezer burns than their uncooked counterparts. So, always cool down your food before popping them inside the freezer. If your vegetable meal is still warm, the abrupt temperature change is a strong reason for freezer burn.
Similarly, some vegetables like cucumber consist of high water content. It makes them prone to freezer burn so, you should avoid storing them in the freezer for long.
Always place your veggies in containers with a moisture-vapor barrier for optimum protection. The sturdier the packaging, the more secure your food will be. Also, never overfill the containers and allow an inch or two space for expansion.
How To Prevent Freezer Burn On Ice Cream?
Contrary to popular belief, frozen desserts like ice cream also can get freezer burn. Unlike other food products, like meat, fruits, and vegetables, ice cream does not get discoloration or spots.
They lose their creamy texture and have hard ice crystals throughout on them. As a result, their original taste and flavoring vanish, and all you have is a tasteless piece of ice cream.
Air exposure can be the worst enemy of your ice cream, either homemade or store-bought. So, when you scoop out the desired portion, place the leftover in an airtight bag for protection.
You can also store your partially-melted pint of ice cream by flipping it upside down. This way, the melted ice cream will drip into the lid without ruining the part that is still frozen.
Conclusion
To sum up, freezer burn can be avoided by following a few easy and basic steps. Frozen food can stay long without getting affected by the harsh freezer environment. For this purpose, go for high-quality packaging/containers. They will keep the food safe and in a good state.
You can wrap your food with another layer of foil or plastic wrap, giving more protection. It will also help in blocking other flavors from getting absorbed and mixing.
Meat varieties like beef, poultry, turkey are an easy target for getting freezer burn. You can avoid it by performing the safety instructions given in this article. Similarly, you can apply them for other food items like fruits, vegetables, etc.
