How Long The Food Can Be Frozen And Still Be Delicious

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Freezing food is one of the easiest ways to preserve food and although food will be stored safely in the freezer indefinitely, this does not mean that it will retain its quality forever - the aroma and texture will be much better if you use the food in a certain period after freezing.

Also, some foods will last longer in the freezer than others and may require some preparation (sliced, blanched, single-layer freezing, etc.) before freezing.

Frozen vegetables

Vegetables can stay in the freezer from three months to a year, depending on what kind they are. Some vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, need to be blanched before being frozen. Also, not all mushrooms are good to freeze raw.

Period of stay in the frozen state of some vegetables:

Broccoli - 1 year;

Carrots - 1 year;

Cauliflower - 1 year;

Corn - 8 months;

Tomatoes - from 3 to 4 months;

Peas - 8 months;

Zucchini - 8 months.

Frozen fruits

The fruits contain water, so when they are frozen and then thawed, their texture will change - it will be softer and often in the form of a pulp. In addition, when the fruit is warm, some of the juice will run out. So it is best to plan to use fruits that have previously been frozen in cooked dishes, sauces, jams and pie fillings.

Frozen fruits are also ideal for shakes, sorbets and ice cream. If you plan to use them this way, save some ice, as this will provide a firmer texture.

Period of stay in the frozen state of some fruits:

Apples - 4 months;

Apricots - 6 months;

Bananas - 8 months;

Cherries - 6 months;

Blueberries - 1 year;

Peaches - 4 months.

Frozen nuts

No matter how fast you plan to eat nuts, it is best to store them in the freezer, regardless of type. Nuts are high in oil and can therefore turn rancid quickly. If they are packed in plastic and stored in a freezer bag with a zipper, the nuts will last two years in the freezer.

Frozen meat

Most of us come home from the supermarket and immediately put the meat we bought in the freezer. As long as it is well packaged, it should last between two months and one year, depending on the type. For very fatty meats, you can remove some of the excess fat before freezing, as this can increase the risk of spoiling the meat when frozen.

Period of stay in the frozen state of meat:

Pork steaks - 6 months;

Liver, kidneys, etc. - Four months;

Sausage - 3 months.

Frozen poultry

Whether a whole bird or a bird cut into pieces, or boned breasts, to make sure they are well packed, is the key to safe freezing. Poultry can last from four months to a year, depending on their shape.

Whole bird - 1 year

Raw parts (with and without bones) - 9 months

Boiled birds - 4 months