Freezer Safety Tips
- Food quality deteriorates if kept frozen for too long. Observe the star ratings on your freezer, and always follow recommendations on packs.
- Use frozen foods systematically - first in, first out. Scribble an expiry date on the lid of the container with ink.
- Don't cram the freezer too full - you'll prevent cold air from circulating.
- Putting hot food straight into the freezer makes the overall temperature rise, and also affects the flavour and texture of the food. Refrigerate hot food as soon as possible after cooling and freeze after no more than 90 minutes of chilling.
- Never refreeze food, unless it has been cooked in the meantime.
- Defrost food either in the fridge or microwave, or by placing packages of frozen food in cold water.
If the Power Supply to the Freezer Stops:
* Keep the door closed if the freezer is likely to be on again within 24 hours.
* Consider removing some food to be thawed, cooked, then refrozen later.
* If you have warning of a power loss, turn your freezer on to fast-freeze (if it has this function) for 30 minutes beforehand.
Buying Frozen Food
- Choose packs that are well below the top line in the shop's freezer.
- Avoid packs that are damaged, icy, or feel at all soft.
- Check the 'best before' date - some foods have a relatively short freezer life.
- Take a cool box to the supermarket and pack all frozen goods into it together to take home, or buy one of the insulated shopping bags many supermarkets now provide.
