Your refrigerator has a freezer section desrgned
to keep temperatures In the zero zone (-17 8-C ..the recommended frozen food storage temperature. It can freeze bargains In freshness and price, and convenient meals you can make ahead of time.
Here are some basics to help get you ac- quainted with your new freezer. For detailed reci- pes, many excellent books are available
Packaging-The only brg secret to successful freezing ISIn the packaging. The wrap must be air, moisture and vapor proof This wrap IS not enough If the seolrng allows air, moisture or vapors in
Rigid polyethylene containers with tight-fitting lids. straight-sided cannrng freezing jars, heavy-
duty alumrnum foil, plastrccoated paper and
poiyethyiene plastic are recommended Note Heat~sealed borlrng bags are easy to use, and other firms supply polyethylene bags to be used by themselves or carton loners
Sealing-When sealing focds in bags squeeze
out the air (Irqurds need headspace to allow for expansion). Twist the top and turn it back. Fasten tte securely around the doubled-over tall Put the label Inside transparent bags, use selffadhesrve label on outside of opaque ones
Arrrtlght wrapping calls for “drugstore” wrap Cut the sheet about one-third longer than the distance around the food Bring the ends together and fold In [toward the food] at least twice to seal out arr Crease ends close to food, press air from package. Fold tips over twice Frnrsh package and tape closed. NOTE With unboned meats, pad sharp edges wrth extra wrap or use stockrnette to protect the wrap from punctures
DO NOT USE
l Bread wrappers
l Nonpolyethylene plastic contarners l Containers without tight lrds
l Waxed paper
l Wax-coated freezer wrap
None of these are totally moisture, atr or va por proof
Freezing Fruits-Select ripe, blemrsh-free fruits Be sure they taste as good as they look Wash 2 to 3 quarts [liters) at a time and drain. Fruit that stands In water may lose food value and become, soggy Sort, peei, tram, pit and sltce as needed
Pack in rigid wide-mouthed containers or other
recommended materrol. Leave head space to aI- low liquids to expand during freezing Refer to a Freezer Book for packing recipes.
