Storing Meat in the Freezer
Foods in the freezer — are they safe? Food stored constantly at -18° C (0 °F) will always be safe (We keep our beef in the freezer for up to 6 months with no drop in quality) Safety and Nutrients In meat there is little change in nutrient value during freezer storage The freezing process itself does not destroy nutrients But you should freeze items you won't use quickly sooner rather than later to retain vitamin content, colour, flavour and texture. Packaging Proper packaging helps maintain quality and prevent freezer burn. It is safe to freeze meat in its original packaging For prolonged storage, overwrap these packages as you would any food for long-term storage It is not necessary to rinse meat If you notice that a package has accidentally been torn or has opened while food is in the freezer, the food is still safe to use; merely overwrap or rewrap it. Freezer Burn Freezer burn does not make food unsafe, merely dry in spots.Cut freezer-burned portions away either before or after cooking the food. Freezing Time Ideally, a food 2-inches thick should freeze completely in about 2 hours. If your home freezer has a "quick-freeze" shelf, use it Spread the packages out in one layer on various shelves, stacking them only after frozen solid Freezer - Refrigerator Temperatures If a refrigerator freezing compartment can't maintain -18C degrees (0 degrees F) or if the door is opened frequently, use it for short-term food storage. Eat those foods as soon as possible for best quality. Use a free-standing freezer for long-term storage of frozen foods Safe Thawing There are three safe ways to thaw food: 1. in the refrigerator 2. in cold water in a leak proof plastic bag 3. in the microwave It's best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Small items will defrost overnight After thawing, cook immediately When microwave-defrosting food, plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Refreezing Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours Cooking Frozen Foods Raw or cooked meat, poultry or casseroles can be cooked or reheated from the frozen state. However, it will take approximately one and a half times as long to cook. Power Outage in Freezer If there is a power outage, the freezer fails, or if the freezer door has been left ajar by mistake, the food may still be safe to use if ice crystals remain. If the freezer has failed and a repairman is on the way, or it appears the power will be on soon, don't open the freezer door. If the freezer door was left ajar and the freezer continued to keep the food cold, the food should stay safe. In an outage, a freezer full of food will usually keep about 2 days if the door is kept shut; a half-full freezer will last about a day.
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