3 Common Mistakes to Avoid With Your Freezer
Modern homes consider freezers as part of the fundamental appliances that every homeowner can’t live without – be it as part of your refrigerator or as a stand-alone appliance. It’s responsible for keeping frozen meats, vegetables, microwave meals, and go-to pints of ice cream fresh for the long haul.
Freezing food has become a normal, albeit essential, function – however, you’d be surprised that it isn’t quite as easy as you think. Quality freezers are built to last, but it isn’t foolproof, so there are bad habits most people share that can actually affect the quality of your frozen items.
Considering how easy it is to make blunders with your freezer, the list below should clue you in on the cold facts below:
Mistake #1: Setting the Temperature Too Low
It’s easy to think that there’s nothing wrong with going lower when setting the temperature of your freezer, but eventually, the biting cold becomes unnecessary and results in more harm than good.
For one thing, low temperatures left for long periods can spike up your electricity bill and wrap your meat, vegetables, and other frozen items in ice crystals. It can even leave freezer burns on your meat, which can detract from its quality significantly.
It’s best to maintain a temperature between 0° F (-18° C). It’s the ideal temperature that is cold enough to keep things frozen, but not enough to build a winter wonderland inside your freezer.
Mistake #2: Jam-Packing Items Inside the Freezer
It’s wise to stock up on food nowadays, but jam-packing more than your freezer can handle will only compromise its performance. Adding an abundance of food inside will lower the freezer’s efficiency, which means it will have a harder time keeping food cool as there are no available space for the cold air to circulate.
Without proper circulation, food items have a higher risk of spoiling faster, which beats the purpose of a freezer in the first place. You know it’s time to purge your freezer when you can’t reach the items stored at the back.
Mistake #3: Failing to Seal the Door Completely
When you pack too much food items inside the freezer, keeping it sealed shut can be tricky. Most refrigerators and freezers have a rubber surrounding the door, which seals the body to trap the cold air.
It has a magnetic feature that ensures the seal is tight, but overstocking the freezer can keep it from sealing. It’s also easy to overlook as the doors can appear closed, but there are hairline openings that can let cold air escape.
When this happens, the frost will melt and can tarnish the quality of all the food items stored in your freezer.
The Bottom Line: Improve Your Efficiency and Extend the Freezer’s Lifespan by Avoiding Common Errors People Make
Freezers are an easy appliance to use, but while it doesn’t need homeowners to read a manual, it helps to understand certain requirements for the sake of your safety. Beyond preserving the taste of your dishes, freezers are a key appliance that ensures you can have fresh food that is safe to serve and eat.
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