The freezer is one of our best food preservation tools, but it can’t work miracles.
Here’s what to toss.
A freezer is something we could never live without.
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We store everything in there, fromcrunchy celeryandcreamy hummusto last night’s leftovers.
This leads to a lot of disorganization and foods that are forgotten (sometimes for years).
Here are six types of items in your freezer that probably need to be thrown out.
If you threw those packagesback into the freezer, you may want to find them and toss them.
Each time you thaw, then refreeze food, you increase the chances for bacteria to grow.
If you find yourself refreezing food, double-check you are doing it as soon as possible.
And remember to wrap tightly, removing as much air as possible from the packaging to preventfreezer burn.
Forgotten Leftovers and Meals
Bringing home leftovers after a visit toGrandmasis one of our favorite things to do.
Those comfort foods really hit the spot whenever we’re homesick.
Although freezer-burned food is not hazardous to eat, the quality of it will be bad.
It may also have an unpleasant smell that comes with freezer burn, and the color may be unappealing.
It’s also best to eat your frozen food within three to six months.
Smelly Ice Cubes
You may be thinking, “Huh?
Ice cubes don’t smell.”
Normally, freshly frozen ice doesn’t have any particular smell or taste.
However, over time ice will absorb scents and flavors from the foods around it.
Once your ice has absorbed those scents, there’s no way to get rid of them.
It’s best to just throw it out and refreeze a fresh batch.
To avoid this problem altogether, investing in ice trays with lids helps.
Old Ice Cream
We have two problems in our household.
The second is that after a few months, those ice creams aren’t tasty anymore.
In general, ice cream stays fresh for about three months,like other frozen dairy products.
It’s a good idea to pay attention to thebest-bydate on the packaging as well.
Better for it to end up in someone’s belly than in the bin.
When there are any extras, we like to freeze them.
We’ve found there was a lot that needed to be thrown out in those areas too.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Food Safety and Inspection Service.Danger Zone (40F - 140F).
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Food Safety and Inspection Service.Freezing and food safety.
