Do you ever wonder if you could put something in the freezer, or how long it will last once it’s there?
You can actually freeze most things – but it really comes down to quality. It may be worth a small decrease in quality to preserve the food longer.
Click the photo for the PDF printable
Either way, here are some things to keep in mind.
- It’s important that you don’t keep foods at the temperature danger zone (between 40 F – 140F) so don’t keep food out of the refrigerator longer than 2 hours – although it’s best to er on the side of caution.
- Contrary to belief, you can actually freeze food when it’s warm – but just don’t overload the freezer and risk raising the temperature.
- When freezing items, you can use most containers as long as they are airtight. Bags made specifically for the freezer are better than the regular ones as they are thicker. Silicon bags, tupperware and foil containers work well too. When using plastic wrap, wrap from underneath the item and back over the top.Keep a permanent marker and freezer tape (not regular tape that come off) and always label everything. Even if you think you’ll remember, you wont. 😉 I have some freezer tape and other things in my amazon shop under tools. (affiliate link)
- When thawing frozen food, it’s best to thaw in the fridge, but you can also run cold water over it in a bowl in the sink. The moment the water turns lukewarm, (every 30 minutes or so) you must change it. You can also use the microwave according to the FSIS.USDA.GOV (but I don’t personally recommend that) If you do choose that, make sure to cook your food immediately after.
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I also like to defrost frozen vegetables overnight in the fridge, (just like proteins) if I know I am using them – it helps to remove excess moisture, which helps with browning and getting the most flavor out of them.