Leave
these items in the fridge.
The lives of certain
foods can be extended by storing them in your freezer, and they’ll taste as
good as they did when you put them in there. But for other foods and
ingredients, your freezer is not your friend. Leave these items in the fridge
if you want them to stay fresh.
1. Eggs
Whole eggs should be
kept out of the freezer. The egg could expand and crack the shell, allowing
bacteria to creep in. Even if the shell remains intact, the yolk will become
syrupy and hard to blend with the egg whites, according to the USDA. Similarly,
icings or sauces made with eggs can turn tough or rubbery in the freezer.
2. Soft cheeses
Soft cheeses, like
goat, brie, and ricotta, tend to separate and take on a grainy texture when
frozen. Hard cheeses, like cheddar, can hold up better in the freezer — though
they could also turn mealy.
3. Other dairy
products
Almost all dairy
products are not freezer-friendly. Sour cream separates and becomes watery, and
cream, yogurt, milk and milk-based sauces may curdle and separate.
4. Certain fruits and
vegetables
Some produce,
especially fruits and vegetables with high water content, will be limp, soggy,
and possibly have a change in flavor or smell after freezing and thawing.
Lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, and watermelon are all better off in the fridge.
Other produce, like
tomatoes, can be frozen but should only be used in cooking, since they become
mushy after thawing, according to the Institute of Agriculture and Natural
Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
5. Seasonings
Most spices and
seasonings should be stored exclusively on your spice rack.
Freezing does not
extend the shelf life of spices, and according to the NCHFP, freezing causes
taste and flavor changes. Garlic, pepper, and imitation vanilla will become
bitter, onion and paprika may change flavor, and curry is known to “develop a
musty off-flavor.” Yuck!
Fresh herbs, on the
other hand, can be frozen, but use them for flavoring only — they become
soggy and limp, not the best bet for a pretty garnish.
6. Fried foods
The yummy crispiness
we love about fried foods disappears after a trip to the freezer, because
thawing makes formerly crunchy foods waterlogged and soggy.
The exception here is
homemade French fries, which can be cooked, frozen, and cooked again without
thawing first. They’ll still taste good and crisp up, plus you can make them
healthier by limiting the amount of oil and fat you use to make them.
7. Dressings
Salad dressings and
condiments like mayonnaise are better left in the fridge. Although they’re safe
to eat after thawing, freezing will make the ingredients separate. The eggs,
oil, and vinegar in mayo will all separate, leaving liquid on top of the mayo.
Attempting to return it to its original texture might not work, and if it does,
you’ll have a thinner, watery substance left.
8. Potatoes
Unless they’re French
fries, potatoes don’t hold up well in the freezer. Depending on their
preparation before freezing, they’ll turn mushy, mealy, watery, or tough. If
you have lots of potatoes on your hands, try making a batch of freezer fries.
See a recipe here.
9. Cooked pasta
Some fresh pastas can
be kept in the freezer before cooking, but stick to the fridge for storage
after cooking. Freezing cooked pasta will turn it into a mushy mess, and give
it a weird “warmed over” taste to boot.
No comments:
Post a Comment