Viking Freestanding manual Frozen Food Storage, Packaging Foods for Freezing, Loading the Freezer

Food Storage Tips

Frozen Food Storage

•The freezer compartment of a refrigerator should be kept at approximately 0° F (-18° C). To check the temperature, place an appliance thermometer between the frozen packages and check after 24 hours. If the temperature is above 0° F (-18° C), adjust the control as described on page 5.

•A freezer operates more efficiently when it is at least two-thirds full.

Packaging Foods for Freezing

•To minimize dehydration and quality deterioration use aluminum foil, freezer wrap, freezer bags or airtight containers. Force as much air out of the packages as possible and be sure they are tightly sealed. Trapped air can cause the food to dry out, change color and develop an off-flavor (freezer burn).

•Wrap fresh meats and poultry with suitable freezer wrap prior to freezing.

•Do not refreeze meat that has completely thawed.

Loading the Freezer

•Avoid adding too much warm food to the freezer at one time. This overloads the freezer, slows the rate of freezing and can raise the temperature of frozen foods.

•Leave space between the packages so cold air can circulate freely, allowing food to freeze as quickly as possible.

•Avoid storing hard-to-freeze foods such as ice cream and orange juice on the freezer door shelves. These foods are best stored in the freezer interior where the temperature varies less with door openings.

Refer to the Food Storage Chart on pages 27 and 28 for approximate storage times.

Food Storage Tips

Food Storage Chart

Storage times are approximate and may vary depending on type of packaging, storage temperature, and the quality of the food when purchased.

Foods	Refrigerator	Freezer	Storage Tips
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Butter	1 month	6 to 9 months	Wrap tightly or cover.
Milk and cream	1 week	Not recommended	Check carton date. Close
			tightly. Don’t return unused
			portions to original container.
			Don’t freeze cream unless
Cream cheese,			whipped.
	1 to 2 weeks	Not recommended	Wrap tightly.
cheese spread and
cheese food
Cottage cheese	3 to 5 days	Not recommended	Store in original carton. Check
Sour cream			carton date.
	10 days	Not recommended	Store in original carton.
Hard cheese			Check carton date.
	1 to 2 months	4 to 6 months	Wrap tightly.
(Swiss, Cheddar and		May become	Cut off any mold.
Parmesan)		crumbly
EGGS
Eggs in the shell	3 weeks	Not recommended	Refrigerate small ends down.
Leftover yolks or	2 to 4 days	9 to 12 months	For each cup of yolks to be
whites			frozen, add 1 tsp. sugar for use
			in sweet, or 1 tsp. salt for non-
			sweet dishes.
FRUITS
Apples	1 month	8 months (cooked)	May also store unripe or hard
			apples at 60° to 70° F (16° to
Bananas			21° C).
	2 to 4 days	6 months	Ripen at room temperature
		(whole/peeled)	before refrigerating. Bananas
Pears, plums,			darken when refrigerated.
	3 to 4 days	Not recommended	Ripen at room temperature
avocados			before refrigerating. Avocados
Berries, cherries,			darken when refrigerated.
	2 to 3 days	6 months	Ripen at room temperature
apricots			before refrigerating.
Grapes	3 to 5 days	1 month (whole)	Ripen at room temperature
Citrus fruits			before refrigerating.
	1 to 2 weeks	Not recommended	May also store at 60° to 70° F
			(16° to 21° C). If refrigerated,
Pineapples, cut			store uncovered.
	2 to 3 days	6 to 12 months	Will not ripen after purchase.
			Use quickly.

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