New Delhi, January 23 (IANS). The freezer is one of our best food preservation tools, but it sure can’t work miracles. It is effective in preserving some things but keeping them in the refrigerator for a long time can cause many problems.
Fridge was once a luxury but today it is a necessity. Be it a house, big or small, it is something we cannot live without. We keep everything in it – from dinner leftovers to spices! Freezer is an important corner of the fridge. In which everything from ice cream to frozen peas to non-veg items are kept. Often in homes, the freezer is also used as a junk drawer – anything that doesn’t find space in our fridge or pantry is haphazardly thrown there. If you have a similar relationship with your freezer, it’s time to get your mind off the hook and say goodbye to unnecessary things!
According to USDA i.e. US Department of Agriculture, cooked food should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than 2 hours and if you miss this challenge, then you give a feast to microbes and bacteria. These days, there is a big craze for frozen pakodas, cheese bites, smileys. This is a blessing for working mothers. But this is not so good for health!
A tip for you if you’ve defrosted a packet of meat or vegetables and thrown it back in the freezer! Every time you take out food, thaw it, and then leave it in the freezer to freeze, you create an environment for bacteria to grow. The best way to prevent the growth of bacteria during thawing is to defrost frozen items and then use them whenever you have time. Do not allow exposure to outside air for more than two hours.
We have been trying for years to buy peas in winter and keep them for the whole year. There are many products which are a favorite pastime to freeze, whether it is seasonal or off-season, but these can also cause major problems for health. According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, frozen goods and foods should be consumed within three to four months as their quality degrades after that. Experts are of the opinion that if something has been in your freezer for more than six months, it is best to say goodbye to it.
If you see a crystal-like deposit on the food, then it is a sign that the substance is not fit for consumption. This is called freezer burnt food. It is not completely bad but the taste is not as expected.
There is one more thing that should be removed from the freezer quickly and that is ice cubes. Which do not change shape but have a strange smell.
It is clear that just as everything that glitters is not gold, similarly not every food item kept in the freezer is safe to eat. The freezer is a great way to preserve all types of food for long periods of time, but it also reduces the quality of your food. Next time when you keep it in the box above the fridge i.e. freezer, keep in mind the days and months.
–IANS
kr/
