Mastering Freezing: Top Tips to Preserve Your Food

1. Ensure Your Freezer is Functioning Properly

Ice buildup can indicate improper freezer operation and can affect the flavor and texture of stored food.

It's important to occasionally defrost your freezer by melting the ice with water.

2. The Right Way to Freeze

When freezing specific foods, store them in an airtight container, label them with the freezing date, and place older food at the front of the freezer while newer items go in the back. This ensures your food stays in optimal condition for at least two months.

3. Freeze Fruits and Vegetables Correctly

Made some fruit puree for your baby? Want to freeze summer fruits for the winter? Wash the fruits, cut into small pieces without peeling, and remove seeds. Place them in containers meant for freezing and drizzle with lemon juice or vitamin C, ensuring these fruits last longer.

And what about vegetables? To freeze them effectively, it's recommended to blanch them: cut them into pieces, place them in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes, strain them from the liquid, put them in airtight bags, and finally freeze.

(Photo: shutterstock)

4. Freeze Fish and Meat Properly

Cut the fish into slices and store them in bags or containers with crushed ice. Unlike other products, ice is crucial in maintaining the flavor and texture of the fish.

Before freezing meat, remove fat pieces (which can be used and frozen separately) and bones, and cut it into pieces. This allows liquids and gases to escape from the meat, preserving its texture over time.

5. Separate into Portions

To keep taste intact, it's advisable to divide quantities into small bags or containers and place them spaced out in the freezer. This way, you'll achieve both quick freezing and defrosting.

6. Not All Foods are Freezer-Friendly

Which foods can you freeze? Patties, spreads, rice, cut fruits, peeled onions and garlic, soups, cakes, cooked legumes, pies.

On the other hand, freezing potatoes and pasta is not recommended as they tend to change texture during thawing.

(Photo: shutterstock)

And One Last Tip

We've learned how to freeze correctly, now we want to use the frozen food – so how to defrost?

It's recommended to thaw frozen foods overnight in the refrigerator, then heat in the oven or on the stove to return the authentic taste.

As for microwave heating, it's less advisable as it can leave a "freezer taste."

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