How to package food to freeze
Sometimes when we go shopping with clients it is difficult to persuade them to buy smaller portions. Every so often we find that we have an excess of some or other food. You may even have made double that cottage pie just in case the family arrive unannounced.
Whatever the reason, there will eventually come a time when you need to freeze some foods. Freezing them correctly means that when you defrost the food, they will be in as good condition as the day you made them. Incorrect freezing, on the other hand, can leave foods unappealing and even unfit to eat.
The FDA has recommendations for freezing food so that it will be as good as the day you cooked it.
Foods not suitable for freezing
High water content foods like watermelon, cucumber, lettuce, and oranges do not freeze well. Neither do cream-based sauces like yogurt, custard, and mayonnaise.
Fried foods do not defrost and will turn out soggy while cooked eggs will turn rubbery.
Wrapping the food
In order to prevent freezer burn food should be securely wrapped to keep air out. If air gets into the packaging it will cause the food to discolour and turn brown.
1. Plastic wrap/cling film
This is ideal for freezing food, as is foil. If you need to freeze things like soup in containers, try to fill as full as possible then squeeze as much air out as possible.
2. Freezer bags/zip lock bags
These are ideal as you can squeeze excess air out and then seal the package, eliminating any burn. These can also be stored on top of each other to save space.
2. Aluminium trays
These are a great asset as you can easily make two dishes at the same time and freeze one for a later date. They can be reheated in the container.
4. Plastic containers
These are very handy and stack well to save space. They are also a good way to freeze larger batches of meals. Make sure that any foods you place in them are not too hot as they can cause the plastic to become misshaped.
5. Glass jars
Be aware that not all glass is suitable to freeze, in fact many experts advise against this as the glass can shatter. Glass cannot handle extreme temperatures so best to avoid using it.
A final note
Individually wrapped pieces of meat or bread can be removed and defrosted in portion size rather than larger amounts. These also thaw faster than big packages.
Always label things you freeze. While you may remember exactly what you have frozen, to another carer it may look like a mysterious package which could either be breakfast or dinner. Always date your packages and use the older foodstuffs first.
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