

The longer it remains exposed to the air on your counter, the greater the chance it will develop freezer burn later on. In that vein, be sure to return your food to the freezer in a timely manner. Limit the time your freezer door is open for as few seconds as possible.

This means it isn’t a good idea to leave your freezer door open while you help yourself to bowl of ice cream or toss the frozen berries in the blender for your morning smoothie. Remember, freezer burn is caused by air exposure. Open and close your freezer as quickly as possible And of course, make sure there are no punctures, tears, or holes for air to seep through your bags or containers.īefore you put your food in the freezer, make sure to label it with the date so it will make it easier to track how long its been there when you’re planning your meals. You’ll generally know this is the case if the packaging of the container says it’s recommended for the freezer. If it’s being stored in a plastic storage container, wrap it first in plastic wrap and make sure the container is airtight. If you’re storing it in a freezer bag, make sure the air is squeezed out and the seal is completely shut. Store your food properlyīe sure you store your food properly before stashing it in the freezer. You should also take pay attention to the use by date and purchase the frozen food with a date that’s as far out as possible.

Put that package back and select another. This is the type of activity that can lead to air exposure and freezer burn. If all the ice and food feels oddly clumped together, the package has melted and was subsequently refrozen. If you can’t see the food inside the package, feel it. Inspect your food in the grocery storeīefore you purchase frozen food at the grocery store take a good look at it as possible to make sure you don’t see telltale splotches and ice crystals. There are several steps you can take to avoid the wasted money and disappointment associated with freezer burned food. With any luck, the center will be unaffected and you can still enjoy your meal. If you feel like you actually must eat freezer burned food because you’re super thrifty or maybe there’s nothing else to eat in the house, we suggest you cut off the outer, discolored layer of the food before cooking. In other words, it’s going to taste and feel weird in your mouth. This will lead to changes in flavor and, of course, consistency. This means that food with freezer burn will be woody and dry after you cook it. But, why would you want to? As we just learned, freezer burn is caused by dehydration.

In general, food afflicted with freezer will not look appealing or appetizing. It may also be discolored or look dried out. Food that’s been blighted by freezer burn will generally be with covered with white splotches and ice crystals. It’s caused by air exposure and it’s easy to spot. What Is Freezer Burn?įreezer burn is the term we use when the surface of frozen food has somehow become overly dehydrated. Read on to learn what causes freezer burn, and better yet, what you can do to avoid it. There are several circumstances that cause it, and the good news is, those circumstances are easily avoidable. It seemingly appears out of nowhere.īut freezer burn does not happen indiscriminately. But for the most part, the causes of freezer burn are somewhat of a mystery to the average person. This is just one of the many reasons it’s disappointing to open up your freezer and find out that chicken you planned to make for dinner is tainted with freezer burn.īut what is freezer burn? Most of us know what it looks like, and a few unfortunate souls may even know what it tastes like. Whether you’re shopping for one or buying provisions for a large family, the price of groceries likely eats up a big portion of your paycheck.
