A well-organized freezer, in addition to making life easier when it comes to taking something out of it, is also essential for maintaining food quality and keeping it free of bacteria and contamination.
Nowadays, the lack of time and the need to have everything fast and always at hand contributes to the increase of frozen products available on the market. In addition to meat, fish and poultry, there is a large number of pastas of various types, ready meals, sausages, desserts, fruits, vegetables and even drinks.
The daily rush also makes housewives prepare food in large quantities and leave everything inside the freezer to speed up the preparation of meals. Freezing food, including leftovers, is also a way to avoid waste by keeping food with fresh flavor, color and aroma.
In this way, the usefulness of the freezer becomes unquestionable, both for those who have a large family and those who live alone, as well as the need to keep it always organized and with the right foods preserved.
To leverage and help you with this task, we've selected some helpful tips you can start putting into practice today.
Cleaning
The first step in organizing the freezer is cleaning, a process that should be done at least every six months to maintain food quality and extend the life of the appliance.
Cleaning should always be done with the freezer unplugged and never on, so it is best to do on cleaning days and take the opportunity to clean the entire refrigerator. If your freezer is a Frost Free model, it will not produce ice, otherwise you should wait for defrosting, remove the water residue, and then start cleaning.
The most suitable solution for cleaning the freezer is made using 1 tablespoon baking soda mixed in 1 liter of warm water. Baking soda has a bactericidal action and also eliminates mold.
You should apply the solution with a clean cloth and then dry completely. Never use products such as alcohol, removers, solvents, vinegar and chemicals and detergent. Once completely clean and dry, you can turn the freezer back on.
Separation
If your freezer has drawers, the tip is to separate into each of the foods divided into categories, ie a drawer passes meat, another for pasta, another for vegetables, another for sweets and desserts and so on. This prevents bacterial contamination and smells and tastes from mingling. Try to keep the ready dishes from the raw ones too.
If your freezer does not have drawers, you can make this separation with the help of small baskets or with pots and plastic packaging.
Packaging
One way to optimize freezer space is to give up the original packaging of some products, particularly cardboard, to increase internal packaging capacity. For this, it is essential that you keep the product expiration date on the plastic packaging. You can annotate or label the product so as not to risk passing the indicated date for consumption.
When choosing packages, give preference to those that are suitable for freezer. In the market, there are several disposable options or not.
Portions
Separating the food into small portions at the time of freezing facilitates the defrosting process and prevents you from defrosting more than will be used, since once defrosted, it is best not to return to the freezer.
Chicken fillets, fish and steaks should be placed individually in plastic bags, but be careful to remove air from the packaging so as not to interfere with freezing. The same process can be done with ground beef, separating it in small quantities and placing it in small plastic bags.
Beans, sauces, broths and soups should be divided into portions necessary for consumption in plastic pots with lids that completely seal the air intake.
disposition
Arrange foods in order of expiration date, leaving the first ones in more visible and easily accessible places. So you don't forget about it and also avoid having to take a lot of things off your back until you get what you really want. Another tip is to place the steaks side by side horizontally.
If you fill the freezer, it can compromise its capacity and make it difficult for air to circulate, so before shopping, make sure you have space available.
Always remember that not all foods can be frozen and they all have a deadline to stay in the freezer.By following these tips and keeping your foods stored at -18 degrees Celsius or below, you will always keep your foods the expected quality and taste.
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