How to freeze food

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The freezer is a more versatile place to store food than many people are used to thinking. Most of the owners of refrigerators store in it only frozen convenience foods, meat, quick-frozen vegetables and, of course, ice and ice cream. In fact, you can keep there almost any food that you purchased for future use and whose shelf life is not long.

Three tips for freezing:

1. Remove air from the container. To avoid cold damage, remove excess air from the bag or container in which you are going to freeze the food.

2. Freeze cooked homemade food. If you always do not have enough time to fully cook, but you can afford to spend one day at the stove, cook for the future and freeze ready-made meals. The only condition: it works if you have somewhere to quickly defrost a portion. That is, for example, in the microwave there is a defrosting option so that you do not have to lay out food to defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.

3. Be careful about re-freezing raw food. If you change plans and want to freeze the food again, do so while it is still firm in the middle and contains ice crystals. Try to use these foods as soon as possible before they lose quality.

Note: set the temperature in the refrigerator to no higher than 5 degrees, and in the freezer to no higher than 17 degrees.

Below is a list of what you can freeze for future use without any problems.

Freezing fruit

What: juice

Refrigerated: open 7-10 days, closed 3 weeks.

Freezer: 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: Pour a little to leave room for expansion, secure with duct tape. Shake after thawing.

What: bananas

In the refrigerator: 2 weeks.

Freezer: 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: Peel, cut, place on a tray and freeze. Store in a closed container or bag.

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What: blueberries, raspberries, blueberries.

In the refrigerator: 2-3 days.

Freezer: 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: lay out on a tray and freeze. Store in a closed container or bag.

What: cranberries.

Refrigerated: 4 weeks.

Freezer: 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in its original unopened packaging or in a bag.

What: grapes.

In the refrigerator: 1-2 weeks.

Freezer: 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: separate the berries from the bunch, place on a tray and freeze. Store in a closed container or bag.

Freezing baked goods

What: yeast bread

In the refrigerator: not stored (bread spoils quickly).

Freezer: 3-6 months.

How to store in the freezer: In its original packaging, wrapped in foil or bag.

What: yeast-free bread (banana crisps, muffins, or biscuit)

In the refrigerator: not stored.

In the freezer: 2-3 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

Freezing vegetables

What: broccoli and cauliflower (cut into pieces 2.5-3 cm)

In the refrigerator: 3-5 days.

In the freezer: blanched for three minutes, stored for 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

* to blanch vegetables, boil them in boiling water for the specified time. Then dip them in ice water and pat dry. This will slow down the action of enzymes that change taste, color, and texture. Cook frozen vegetables without defrosting.

What: cabbage (sliced, for heat treatment only)

Refrigerated: 1 week.

In the freezer: blanched 1-1, 5 minutes, stored for 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: carrots (diced).

In the refrigerator: 2 weeks.

In the freezer: blanched for 2 minutes, stored for 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: corn (separated from the stump)

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: blanched for 3 minutes, stored for 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: asparagus beans

Refrigerated: 1 week.

In the freezer: blanched for 3 minutes, stored for 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: small potatoes (purified).

In the refrigerator: not stored, darkens and changes taste.

In the freezer: blanched 3-5 minutes, stored for 8-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

Freezing meat

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What: steak.

In the refrigerator: 3-5 days.

Freezer: 10-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: chops.

In the refrigerator: 3-5 days.

Freezer: 4-6 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: meat for frying.

In the refrigerator: 3-5 days.

Freezer: 10-12 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: minced meat.

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: 3-4 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: raw sausages.

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

Freezer: 1-2 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: hot dogs and cooked sausages.

Refrigerated: open 1 week, closed 2 weeks.

Freezer: 1-2 months.

How to store in the freezer: in its original packaging in a bag.

What: bacon.

In the refrigerator: 7 days.

In the freezer: 1 month.

How to store in the freezer: in its original packaging in a bag.

What: sausage.

Refrigerated: open 3-5 days, closed 2 weeks.

Freezer: 1-2 months.

How to store in the freezer: in its original packaging in a bag.

Fish Freeze

What: lean fish (cod, flounder, halibut)

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: 3-6 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: oily fish (salmon)

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: 2-3 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: seafood (shrimp, oysters, scallops, mussels, shellfish)

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: 3 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

Freezing poultry

What: a whole carcass

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

Freezer: 1 year.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: pieces

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

Freezer: 9 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: minced meat

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: 3-4 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: raw sausages

In the refrigerator: 1-2 days.

In the freezer: 1-2 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: egg whites and yolks

In the refrigerator: 2-4 days.

In the freezer: 1 year (mix yolks with 1-1.5 teaspoon sugar or 1/8 teaspoon salt per ¼ cup. This will prevent yolks from gelatinizing).

How to store in the freezer: in a closed container, close in volume to the amount of the product, with a note on the number of eggs.

Freezing dairy products

What: grated cheese

In the refrigerator: 1 month.

In the freezer: 3-4 months.

How to store in the freezer: in a bag.

What: hard cheese (cheddar, swiss and parmesan)

In the refrigerator: 2 weeks.

Freezer: 6 months.

How to store in the freezer: cut into small pieces, wrap each in plastic wrap, then fold into a bag.

What: soft cheese (brie, not processed cheese and curd)

Refrigerated: open 3-4 weeks, unopened 6 months.

Freezer: 6 months.

How to store in the freezer: cut into small pieces, wrap each in plastic wrap, then fold into a bag.

What: oil

In the refrigerator: 2-3 months.

Freezer: 6-9 months.

How to store in the freezer: up to a month in its original packaging, longer in a bag.

What: milk

In the refrigerator: 7 days.

Freezer: 3 months.

How to store in the freezer: Pour a little to leave room for expansion, seal with duct tape. Shake after defrosting.