Food Storage Guide, Storing Frozen Food

FOOD STORAGE GUIDE

Wrap or store food in the refrigerator in airtight and moisture-proof material unless otherwise noted. This prevents food odor and taste transfer throughout the

refrigerator. For dated products, check date code to ensure freshness.

STORING FROZEN FOOD

NOTE: For further information about preparing food for freezing or food storage times, check a freezer guide or a reliable cookbook.

Packaging

items

Butter or

margarine

Cheese

How t o Store

I_ Keep opened butter in a covered dish or closed compartment. When storing an extra supply, wrap in freezer packaging and freeze.

Store in the original wrapping until you are ready to use it. Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Successful freezing depends on correct packaging. When you close and seal the package, it must not allow air or moisture in or out. If it does, you could have food odor and taste transfer throughout the refrigerator and also dry out frozen food.

Packaging recommendations:

• Rigid plastic containers with "tight=fitting lids"

• Straight-sided canning/freezing jars

• Heavy=duty aluminum foil

• Plastic-coated paper

• Non-permeable plastic wraps

• Specified freezer-grade self-sealing plastic bags


Milk		Wipe milk cartons. For best
		Wipe milk cartons. For best
		storage, place milk on interior
		shelf, not on door shelf.
Eggs		Store	in original carton or on
		interior shelf, not on door shelf.
Fruit		Wash, let dry, and store in
		Wash, let dry, and store in
		refrigerator in plastic bags or in
		the crisper. Do not wash or hull
		berries until you are ready to use
		them. Sort and keep berries in
		their original container in a
		crisper drawer, or store in a closed
		and sealed paper bag on a
		refrigerator		shelf.
Leafy		Remove store wrapping and trim
vegetables		or tear	off bruised and discolored
		areas. Wash in cold water and
		drain. Place in plastic bag or
		plastic container and store in
		crisper	drawer.
Vegetables with	_	Place	in plastic bags or plastic
skins (carrots,		container		and store in crisper
peppers)		drawer.
Fish	_	Use fresh		fish and shellfish the
		same day purchased.
Leftovers	I_	Cover leftovers with plastic wrap
		or aluminum foil. Plastic containers

with tight lids can also be used.

Follow package or container instructions for proper freezing methods,

Do not use

•Bread wrappers

•Containers without tight lids

•Wax paper or wax-coated freezer wrap

•Thin, semi-permeable wrap

E_ CAUTION" Do not keep beverage cans or plastic food containers in the freezer compartment. They may burst if they freeze.

Freezing

Your freezer will not quick-freeze any large quantity of food. Do not put more unfrozen food into the freezer than will freeze within 24 hours [no more than 2 to 3 Ibs of food per cubic foot (0.9 to 1.35 kg per cubic meter) of freezer space]. Leave enough space in the freezer for air to circulate around packages. Be careful to leave enough room at the front so the door can close tightly.

Food storage times will vary according to the quality and type of food, the type of packaging or wrap used (airtight and moisture-proof) and the storage temperature. Ice crystals inside a sealed package are normal. This simply means that moisture in the food and air inside the package have condensed, creating ice crystals.

NOTE: Allow hot foods to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then package and freeze. Cooling hot foods before freezing saves energy.