In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Is Freezer Burn?Freezing Food FactsFreezer-Burn FactsFreezer-Burned Safety TipsRefreezing SafetyHow to Prevent It
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
What Is Freezer Burn?
Freezing Food Facts
Freezer-Burn Facts
Freezer-Burned Safety Tips
Refreezing Safety
How to Prevent It
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Photo: Getty Images
Have you ever opened up the freezer, ready to pull out some meat oranother frozen food, only to find it looks like it’s covered in a layer of ice? That’s freezer burn. But if you’ve chucked your freezer-burned food immediately in the past, you might want to reconsider. For everything you need to know about freezer-burned foods, including why it happens and how to prevent it, read on.
Are Canned and Frozen Vegetables Healthy?
Freezer burn can occur when there is moisture lost from frozen food. All foods contain water, which forms ice crystals when frozen, causing dehydration. The dehydration makes the food dry and tough underneath a layer of thousands of ice crystals.
“Simply put, freezer burn is the process where water inside the cells of food—could be meat, vegetables, pizza, bread, etc.—evaporates and dehydrates portions of the food. This usually happens from the surface inward. Freezer burn causes off-flavors and textures that most people will not be able to stomach,” saysShawn Matijevich, lead chef of Online Culinary Arts & Food Operations at the Institute of Culinary Education.
What Happens When Foods Freeze?
There’s a science tofreezing your food,and it doesn’t happen as quickly as you might think. “If we had the ability to look at the water in your freezer under a powerful microscope, you would see that even if your food appears to be frozen, much of the water is not frozen in the first several hours or days (depending on the size and composition of the item being frozen),” Matijevich shares.
The temperature of your fridge and freezer can fluctuate when it is opened and closed, especially if it’s happening frequently and for long periods of time. Your freezer being overfilled can also lead to a longer freeze time, which can cause freezer burn. But that isn’t the only issue, says Matijevich.
“Further complicating things is that water can also exist as a liquid in a super-cooled state up to minus 55°F. Freezing foods at higher temperatures—20°F to 32°F—means that the water will most likely crystallize into large, sharp crystals. This causes all sorts of damage to cell walls and increases the chances of water being able to evaporate or sublimate in your freezer.”
What Happens When Foods Become Freezer-Burned?
The oxygen being introduced due to evaporation will causechanges in the flavor and color of the food, particularlymeatsand other items that have not been well-packaged. But it’s not only meat that can be affected. The longer any food stays in the freezer, the higher its chances of developing freezer burn.
Wrapping food, particularly meat, as tightly as possible is one of your best defenses against freezer burn. Make sure everything is entirely covered inside the smallest sealed container or storage bag possible.
Aside from meat, another common victim of freezer burn is ice cream, which can turn a bit icy and scratchy when freezer-burned. Like meat, it’s still completely safe to eat. However, the textural changes may be more evident since you’re eating a frozen treat. The affected areas likely won’t be up to your normal standards in terms ofcreamy texture, but the remainder may be salvageable depending on how intense the freezer burn is. Moving forward, make sure that you keep your ice cream covered tightly.
If yourfruits and veggiesare looking a little freezer-burned, they may also experience some textural changes when thawed and cooked. Try blending your fruits into adelicious smoothie, or spin your veggies into ahearty soup.
Is It Safe to Eat Freezer-Burned Foods?
So, is it safe to eat freezer-burned food? It’s a common misconception that you lose out on nutrients if your food has been freezer-burned, but it’s actually just the quality that is degraded when freezer burn occurs.
Matijevich affirms, “There is no evidence that food loses any nutritional value or that any pathogens would develop that make you ill. It just tastes really bad.”
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Is It Safe to Refreeze Foods?
How to Prevent Freezer Burn
Luckily, there are ways you can fight back against freezer burn:
The Bottom Line
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