How To Properly Store Frozen Food

Now that you’ve learned about freezer meal prep, storing food ingredients can be just as good to produce zero food waste in your kitchen. However, without the right techniques and gear, you might be giving away the ingredients that you prepped with hard work to freezer burn. In short, freezing food is a very versatile technique and can save you a lot of bucks on groceries. 

What should I do before I store my produce?

Make sure to lower your freezer’s temperature and leave plenty of space for your new produce batch, at least a few hours earlier.

Rinse and cut your produce if necessary, and wait until there is no excess water on their surface that could potentially bind them together when frozen. 

To maintain your produce’s freshness and quality (like we do here at Simplot), freeze them as immediately as possible. Doing so will prevent larger ice crystals to develop, which will result in the food becoming soggy and tough in texture when they’re reheated. Packing them in smaller portions also helps to avoid this and speeds up the freezing process.

Try not to combine produce that thaws at different rates in the same bag e.g. chicken breasts and long beans. 

What should I store my produce in?

Zip-lock bags are ideal for a handful of reasons. They’re cheaper than most options, take up less space in the freezer, and you’re also able to get all of the air out from them. Store your meat or vegetables and lay them flat, and stack them to spare more space. However, it’s important to purchase bags that are freezer-safe as they are thicker and are less likely to puncture or tear. A conscious (but pricey) alternative to these plastic bags is reusable silicone bags. They are sturdy and allow a lot less air in, enabling your produce to last longer. 

For bigger items that don’t fit in a bag such as large cuts of meat o bread, wrap them using cling wraps. They are much thinner, so make sure to wrap your food as tightly as possible. Otherwise, heavy-duty aluminum foil can give an extra layer of protection against freezer burn. 

Airtight containers are extremely durable and are less likely to pick up odors. They are also much easier to clean.

Organizing your freezer

Forgetting that you actually kept food in the freezer is common when it isn’t organized. Keep a list of what you kept and the date you stored them, and make sure to label the bags and containers. Try arranging them neatly so you won’t be met with an overwhelming view every time you open the freezer.