Food Storage Guide, Storing Frozen Food, Items

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 I_ 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	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

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.