What Are Freezer Burns And How Do I Prevent Them?
No matter how freezer-friendly your food is, there is always that risk of it experiencing the burn. No, we aren’t talking about the burn caused by fire. Rather, we’re talking about freezer burns. Freezer burns are never fun to deal with, and they can seriously ruin anything from ice cream to even chicken breasts.
That being said, let’s talk more about freezer burns and share with you a couple of tips on how to prevent them.
What Is Freezer Burn?
Freezer burn is best described as the dehydration of food due to exposure to the elements in a freezer. The exposure to the elements results in a loss of moisture content. As a result, they end up drier than usual, and they can even lose some of their nutritional value.
How Do I Avoid Freezer Burns?
To ensure your food does not experience freezer burns, here are some of the things you can do:
1. Don’t Store It Too Long In The Freezer
Do your best not to store your food in the freezer for too long. Why? This is because regardless of how protected your food is from freezer burn, it’ll inevitably succumb to it if it sits in the freezer for long enough. This generally happens if you store a food item for six months or more.
So, think twice before purchasing something and storing it in the freezer. Sure, the freezer is great for preserving food, but if you do not want to deal with freezer burn, then you will need to ensure you eat the food as soon as you can.
2. Refrigerate The Food Before Freezing It
It’s always a good idea to refrigerate your food before you place it in the freezer. This is because if you store your food while still hot or warm right in the freezer, the transition from hot to cold will force the item to lose moisture.
So, cool the food first to ensure it retains the moisture. After that, go ahead and freeze it up.
3. Use Air-Tight Containers
Always store your food in air-tight containers. This is especially true for foods and drinks that come in cans and glass bottles. It also applies to food that comes prewrapped, as such wrappings may not actually be air-tight, to begin with.
This is even better if you use vacuum-sealed freezer bags, but any air-tight storage containers will do. This characteristic ensures that moisture stays locked in the food product.
4. Keep The Freezer Door Closed As Much As Possible
This tip has the same logic as our second tip. When you open the freezer door, the temperature rises up, and this increase can cause food to lose its moisture.
So, keep the freezer door closed at all times, and only open it for a few seconds to put things away or to take stuff out!
Conclusion
Freezer burns are never fun to deal with, but they can be prevented. If your food happens to experience freezer burn anyway, don’t worry! Some products are well-known to handle freezer burns better than others, so you can still salvage them in the end.
Regardless, follow the tips we’ve shared with you to reduce the risk of freezer burns. That way, you can enjoy fresher foods without having to worry about freezer burns!
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