Food Freezing Safety Tips

If done correctly, putting food on ice can be an excellent way to save time and eat well.

Know What to Freeze

Technically, you can freeze any food or beverage, with the exception of canned products and eggs in their shells. However, some foods don’t freeze well, including mayonnaise, creamy sauces and lettuce. You also need to consider the quality of your food before freezing. Higher-quality food freezes better.

Know How to Freeze

Store all food to be frozen in airtight containers, preferably made from glass or plastic, labeled with their contents and date of freezing. In order to prevent the growth of bacteria and other harmful substances, keep your freezer at 0°F. You can freeze food at this temperature indefinitely, but its taste and appearance will degrade the longer it’s frozen.

Know How to Thaw

The safest way to thaw food is to let it defrost slowly in the refrigerator. If time is an issue, you can use a microwave or a bowl of cold water, but you must cook whatever you’re defrosting immediately afterwards.

Know What to Refreeze

Food thawed in the refrigerator can be safely refrozen without cooking. Previously-frozen raw food that is cooked can be frozen, as can unused portions of previously cooked food thawed in the refrigerator.