Ultimate guide to storing and freezing almost any food

Freezing fresh or cooked food can help you save time and money but there is a correct way to do it. Follow these tips from taste.com.au.

Freezing food can save you time and money. So when it comes to fresh produce or meals you have cooked, taste.com.au has put together a guide on how to properly freeze food.

Here’s how to make sure you’re storing food correctly, plus a go-to guide for timings to print out and stick on your fridge for a handy reference.

Keep it safe

Always take meat out of the original packaging and remove any moisture packs before wrapping and freezing (see our downloadable guide at the bottom of this page).

When freezing mince or chopped meat, flatten so the meat thaws more quickly and evenly.

Defrost raw meat and seafood in the refrigerator overnight. Never refreeze raw food. You can refreeze it once cooked.

Label and date everything that goes in the freezer so you remember what it was and when you need to use it by.

Remove meat from packaging before freezing.

Make sure that casseroles, pasta bakes and muffins have cooled completely before wrapping up, and try to freeze food on the day you make it.

Regularly check the temperature of your freezer. It should be at minus 18C.

Keep costs down

Keep your freezer as full as possible. This will mean there is less air that needs to be cooled and circulated.

When freezing meat and seafood, package in serving portions to reduce defrosting time and keep wastage to a minimum.

Keep it well

Although ingredients with freezer burn are safe to eat, it can change a product’s texture. Make sure food is properly wrapped to ensure no air can get in.

Nuts are high in natural oils and can go rancid if kept at room temperature. Store nuts in snap-lock bags in the freezer.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as Ultimate guide to storing and freezing almost any food