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39
STORING FOOD IN YOUR FREEZER
Red meats, poultry and game
Select lean meats as opposed to fatty meats. These have a lower fat content, freeze
much better and can be stored longer.
When packaging meats (chops, steaks, cutlets), separate each with a sheet of plastic
freezer film, then package all together. This prevents the meats forming into a solid
block on freezing.
Ensure stuffing is removed from poultry prior to freezing. Whole poultry or poultry
pieces should only be stuffed right before cooking. Preparation in advance may result in
food poisoning.
Fish and seafood
Ensure whole fish are rinsed inside and out with cold running water to remove loose
scales and dirt, then dried and packaged before storing in the freezer.
Fruit
Choose high quality, ripe, and ready to eat fruits. Only select fruit varieties
recommended for freezing.
Most packaged fruits can be stored for 8 – 12 months. Fruits packed in syrup are ideal
for desserts, while fruits packed without sugar are better used for cooking.
Vegetables
Not all vegetables are suitable for freezing eg lettuce, radishes, and onions. Only select
ripe and ready-to-eat vegetables recommended for freezing.
Ensure vegetables are sorted and damaged parts are discarded.
Blanch vegetables before freezing. This technique inhibits vegetable enzymes and helps
preserve the colour, flavour and nutritional value of the vegetables without chemical or
physical damages.
– To blanch, boil vegetables in boiling water for 2 – 4 minutes, remove and cool
quickly in ice-cold water. Drain well then package.
Precooked foods and leftovers
Ensure cooked food are stored in suitable covered containers and away from raw frozen
foods.
Not all foods are suitable for freezing; some separate on defrosting such as cooked egg
whites, custards and cream fillings, meringue toppings, milk porridges, gelatin or jelly-
like dishes and salad dressings.
Beverages
Ensure that the ‘Bottle Chill’ function is active before cooling any carbonated beverages
to avoid freezing. Frozen beverages can lead to bottle/can explosion in the freezer.
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