STORING FROZEN FOOD
Packaged Frozen Food Store on freezer door
shelf or in the freezer If you plan to store It for a long
trme. re-wrap it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap
Frozen Meats- The followlng hints will help
keep the qualtty in your frozen meats
I. Freeze meat while fresh and In top condltlon
2. Use only recommended wrapping materials..
3. Prepare the meat foe freezing before wrap-
ping it Trim off excess fat and remove bones
when practical Meat should not be salted
because salt shortens freezer life
4. Wrap tightly, pressing out as much air as
The freezer section ISdeslgned for storage of com- posstble.
mercially frozen foods and for freezing foods at 5. Label and date it
home 6. Refreezing thawed meat ISnot recommended
Frozen Soups, Juices Store on freezer door
shelf or In the freezer
Packaging -The secret of successfui freezlng IS
in the packaglng The wrap you use must be air,
moisture and vapor proof The way you close and
seal the package must not allow air, moisture or
vapors In or out
Rigid polyethylene (plastic) containers with tight-
fitting lids, straight-sided canning freezing jars,
heavy-duty aluminum fotl, plastic-cwted paper and
non-permeable plastic wraps (such as Saran) are
recommended Note Heat-sealed boiling bags are
easy to use and can be used by themselves or as
carton liners.
IMPORTANT: Do not expect your freezer to qulck-
freeze any large quantlty of food. leave enough
space for air to circulate around packages. Be
careful to leave enough room at the front so the
door can close tlghtly.
STORAGECHARTFORFROZENFOOD
Storage times given in this chart are only a
guide. For best use of freezer space, keep fro-
zen foods for short times. Use, then replace as
needed.
Bread .......................... 2 months
Cooked Dishes ............... 2-3 months
Fish and Seafoods
Fresh ......................... 6 months
Commercially Frozen ...... l-3 months
Fruits ........................... 6 months
Ice Cream ....................... 1 month
Concentrated
Jutce
.......... 4-6 months
Meats
Bacon ................ Less than 1 month
Pork roasts. chops .......... 3-4 months
Sausage ...... . ............. I;2 months
Beef, veal, lamb roasts ....... 6 months
Ground meat ............... . l-2 months
Poultry ..................... 3-4 months
Vegetables ..................... 6 months
Ice Cream Store In the freezer Once the pack-
age
IS
opened, place a piece of olumlnum foil or
waxed paper smoothly against the Ice cream sur-
. Courtesy of Notlonal Live Stock and Meat Board
face This
will
prevent ice crystals from forming .Courtesy
of U S D A
Vacation and moving care
Short vacations. . .
No need to shut off the refrigerator If you ~111be
away for less than four weeks Use up perishables
freeze other items. If your refrigerator
IS
equtpped
with an automatic ice maker, 1) turn it off, 2) shut off
the water supply to the ice maker, 3) empty the Ice
bin
Long vacations. . .
Remove all the food If you are going for a month
or more If your refrigerator IS equipped with an
automat/c Ice maker, turn off the water supply to
10
the Ice maker at least a day ahead When the last
load of Ice drops, turn off the ice maker
Unplug the refrigerator and clean It rinse well
and dy. Tape rubber or wood blocks to both doors
keeping them open far enough for air to get In
This
will
keep &or and mold from building up.
Tape the blocks out of a child’s reach...do
not allow children near the refrigerator when
the doors are blocked open.
To restart refrigerator, see “Using Your Refrigerator ”