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What to Do With Freezer Burned Food: Overcoming the Melting Point
The dreaded freezer burn. While it’s a fact of life in most homes that have a refrigerator/freezer combo, there’s hope for those bags of frozen fruit, veggies, and meats that have been subjected to the elements. Knowing what to do with freezer burned food can salvage your meal plans and potentially save you some money in the process.
Identifying Freezer Burn
First and foremost, it’s important to identify what freezer burn looks like. Freezer burn is characterized by a change in texture and color to food that has been exposed to air. Food with freezer burn typically has a silver-white appearance and feels hard or leathery.
What You Can Do
After you’ve identified the food that has suffered from freezer burn there’s still some hope. Depending on the type of food, you might be able to salvage it. Here are some of the things you can do:
- Fruit – Cut off the affected areas and use the remaining pieces for baking, smoothies, purees and sauces.
- Vegetables – Cut off the affected parts. Fill a pot with water, bring it to a boil and add the vegetable pieces for quick freeze-thaw cycle. Simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or until desired texture is reached.
- Meats - Trim off the affected parts, rinse with cold water, pat dry and marinate in an acid-based marinade such as balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
It’s always a safe bet to discard severely freezer burned food.
Preventing Freezer Burn
The best way to deal with freezer burn is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some tips to help you protect your food:
- Vacuum seal bags or containers
- Keep food at 0°F or lower
- Don’t overcrowd the freezer
- Move older foods to the front
By following these tips you can help ensure that your food stays fresh and tasty for longer.
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