7 Solutions for your Freezer Burn Problems

For those of you who don’t know what freezer burns are let me explain what this phenomenon is. Freezer burn is a condition where the moisture in the food escapes to the surface and leaves behind dry pockets in the food, causing the food to dry up and change in texture and flavor. This is mainly caused by the difference in the internal temperature of the food and the external temperature of where it is being stored (the refrigerator).  Freezer burnt food is not harmful but can cause the food to taste all weird and tasteless.

Here are solutions to avoid freezer burns:

• Limit exposure to air

Try to reduce the exposure of the food to air. Try to finish off the food items that are older.

• Wrap the food item few times

When you know that a food item is going to sit in the freezer for a long time then ensure that it is wrapped a couple of times so that the moisture remains locked or sealed in, leaving no room for exposure to the air.

• Make sure that there is no air in the packaging

When you store any food item in the freezer, please ensure that the packaging does not have any air in it. Squeeze out the maximum air possible from the packaging.

• Keep the freezer full

The more your freezer is full, the less it has to work, as the other frozen foods will aid in freezing the newly stored ones.

• Freeze foods at the right time and temperature

Foods should be packed when they are at room temperature. Any temperature too hot or cold will ruin the food and the packaging. If you freeze food while it’s still hot, the steam inside the food gets trapped in the packaging and will rise to the surface when you freeze it causing freezer burns. Try to keep the food in the fridge for a few hours before you freeze so as to prevent the sudden shift in temperature which is the cause of freezer burns in most cases.

• Re-package store bought goods

Goods sold at supermarket are usually wrapped just enough to spare it from damage during your transit home. Re wrap all the food in proper freezer storage containers or freezer safe packaging material.

• Control humidity in the freezer

Some freezers these days come with the inbuilt feature of controlling the humidity in the freezer. But if you don’t have this option, then consider leaving an open bowl of water to control the levels of moisture in the air and prevent the water molecules in the food from escaping. So prevent the food in your freezer from drying out and turning into a state where it cannot be eaten.

Protect your food and save money for a rainy day.

Written by: Rasha Ashraf