Questions tagged [freezing]

Methods, techniques, and quality/safety concerns around the freezing of various foods.

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66 votes
9 answers
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How dangerous is it to refreeze meat that has been thawed?

I've often been told by people that I shouldn't refreeze meat (particularly hamburger meat) once it has been thawed. However, this seems a little silly to me. I can't imagine how meat that hasn't ...
Daniel Bingham's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
31k views

Rules for refreezing food

What are the general rules regarding when can you refreeze food that was frozen and then thawed in the fridge? and what are the reasons behind them? (Hygiene? Food quality?). Let's assume for the sake ...
dan12345's user avatar
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23 votes
9 answers
12k views

Can raw eggs be frozen?

If raw eggs are nearing their expiry date, can they be preserved in the freezer? Would there be any issues with them after taking them out of the freezer?
Daniel Vandersluis's user avatar
27 votes
1 answer
79k views

Why did my Turkey Stock turn into gelatin?

We took our left-over turkey carcass and parts and simmered them for a few hours with water in a pot with some herbs and veggies. After removing the solids, and separating the fat, we placed it in ...
mohlsen's user avatar
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18 votes
12 answers
123k views

Can whole chilli peppers be frozen?

I have some Dorset Naga chilli peppers bought from the local supermarket. Aren't they lovely? :) Well, unfortunately, my local supermarket (I think the only one in the UK that stocks them) doesn't ...
CraigTP's user avatar
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53 votes
9 answers
6k views

Once a month cooking

I've heard of "once a month cooking" or "freezer cooking," where you basically spend a day cooking and fill your freezer with the next month's worth of food. This could especially come in handy when ...
Dinah's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
3k views

Freeze Soup very quickly Without Destroying the Content In Fridge?

I am trying to finish soups faster. I have very heavy iron kettle and it takes years to become cold. I use a water container with ice with it but the hot water still takes a lot time to become cold. I ...
user avatar
26 votes
7 answers
147k views

Is it okay to keep flour in the freezer?

Years ago I noticed I was getting little bugs in the flour that I kept in the pantry. To prevent this, I started keeping my flour in the freezer. I don't do a lot of baking, but I was wondering what ...
Fezter's user avatar
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26 votes
4 answers
17k views

Can I freeze roux?

Is it possible to prepare a (large) batch of roux and then freeze it, or will the texture and flavour be destroyed in the process?
Ruben Steins's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
10k views

Can I successfully bake previously-frozen bread dough?

I prefer my bread freshly baked (who doesn't?), but my mixer prefers kneading two loaves at a time to just kneading one. I have tried to freeze the second loaf before baking it, but when I thaw it, it ...
Rebekah's user avatar
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20 votes
7 answers
4k views

Can meat freeze from the inside out?

We received a turkey recently which was meant to be 'fresh'. When it arrived it was frozen on the inside. We are told that the fridge was probably set a bit low so the turkey froze on the inside. I'...
Mr. Flibble's user avatar
15 votes
6 answers
31k views

How should I store raw steaks in the freezer?

What's the best method for storing steaks in the freezer? How should I wrap them? Should they be stored individually?
ahsteele's user avatar
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13 votes
6 answers
15k views

What can I do with frozen eggs?

Although a previous question asks if raw eggs can be frozen, my eggs froze, in the shell, because the chicken coop into which they were delivered was very cold last week. I thawed the eggs, and they ...
David LeBauer's user avatar
11 votes
5 answers
12k views

Is a longer defrost better than microwave defrosting?

I was taught the idea that if you let frozen meat thaw out over night then it is better for the end product that defrosting it in the microwave? Does this have merit or is it just an old wives tale? ...
Neil Meyer's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
3k views

How to get rid of the smell from the fridge? [closed]

Storing various meals and products in fridge (or freezer) can result in mixing different flavours, which isn't that great. What are your best practises to avoid the smell?
Cornelius's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
68k views

How to properly freeze cake

I have a cake project coming up and have to bake a few different cakes. I'm not much of a baker and was anticipating having to bake all of these at roughly the same time. I was thinking that I could ...
Ryan Elkins's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
5k views

What should I know about storing my homemade chili powder?

I am planning on making some chili powder this weekend using ancho, pasilla, and guajillo peppers. I got a nice big bag of each recently and have some questions about chili powder. The second part of ...
mfg's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
11k views

Can you preserve canned kidney beans so that they still have their shape?

I buy kidney beans in a can, but the amount is always too big. Normally, I throw away the leftover beans, thinking that freezing them will turn them into mush (thinking the water will expand and make ...
Mien's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
152k views

How should I deal with blood released while thawing meat in the refrigerator?

Saturday I pulled a package of venison from my freezer to thaw and hope to make stroganoff with it tonight. However, this morning I noticed that the package (in a bowl) had really released a lot of ...
mfg's user avatar
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17 votes
6 answers
90k views

How to properly freeze kefir grains

I have been making kefir regularly for a couple years. Lately, however, my family's interest in it has waned and I have been using it less often and so feeding it less often. I want to store some ...
Sobachatina's user avatar
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16 votes
10 answers
16k views

Labeling Food for the Freezer

I freeze stuff. Anything from Bolognese to stew. I portion these meals, after they've cooled, into meal-sized Tupperware boxes and stuff them randomly into my crowded freezer. The problem is that it'...
shennan's user avatar
  • 359
15 votes
4 answers
431k views

How long does uncooked meat last when kept in the freezer? [duplicate]

Chicken, beef, or even shrimp? How long can I keep it there before it goes bad?
Cho's user avatar
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15 votes
2 answers
25k views

Defrosting pizza dough correctly?

Last time I made pizza dough I was a bit...generous with the ingredients - not a problem, I thought, as I'd read before somewhere that pizza dough is nicely freezable. So, I broke the dough in half, ...
DMA57361's user avatar
  • 1,775
14 votes
6 answers
248k views

Should homemade lasagna be frozen cooked or uncooked?

My wife and I are prepping some meals ahead of time before Baby #2 arrives early next month. She just made 3 small lasagnas (8"x8" pans) this afternoon and we are debating whether to bake them first ...
psubsee2003's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
7k views

Why blanche vegetables before freezing?

I have a bumper crop of french beans, runners, and (earlier in the summer) peas. I know that we're supposed to blanche vegetables prior to freezing and my general purpose cookbooks tell me how long to ...
Tea Drinker's user avatar
  • 4,160
13 votes
6 answers
12k views

What is the best way to store stock in the freezer?

What is the best way to store stock in the freezer? I can think of ice cubes and plastic bags, but am looking for other ideas. Also, what would be the optimal portion size?
Markus's user avatar
  • 539
11 votes
1 answer
15k views

How to make part bake baguettes and rolls?

I'm not sure if these are available everywhere but in the UK we buy these part baked bread rolls from the supermarket and after about 10mins in the oven, you essentially have fresh baked bread and ...
connersz's user avatar
  • 487
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the "idea" behind thawing out meat?

Is it some how better to thaw out meat in a refrigerator versus on the counter versus running hot water over it versus in the microwave? Is it the longer the time meat has to thaw out the more taste ...
Celeritas's user avatar
  • 1,635
8 votes
4 answers
1k views

Recomendations in Freezer Use

I know that vegetables can be frozen. Which vegetables respond well to freezing? Which don't? Are there specific recommendations for what vegetables freeze well?
5 votes
1 answer
467 views

Does it matter if I freeze dough before proofing?

I made some pizza dough today and only used 1/3 of it. The other portions I decided to put in the freezer to use later on. I froze them before proofing though. Does this matter? Should I have let them ...
user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
3k views

Where should I store my cakes?

Where is the best place to store cakes? I usually store them in a normal, plastic box but I had an idea to store them in a freezer. Would that be okay to store cakes there? Could it degrade the ...
Sid's user avatar
  • 173
4 votes
5 answers
23k views

What stops commercial ice lollies from being rockhard?

In the UK you can purchase ice lollies/suckers that are pretty soft to eat. However, if you were to make your own in an ice lolly mold they'll be rock hard like ice normally is. What do commercial ...
TMFKSOFT's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
64k views

Defrosting meat/fish in warm water

I have found warm water to be a great way to quickly defrost meat and fish as opposed to just letting it sit outside the freezer, which is what my mom does. But I wonder if there are any negative ...
amphibient's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Good Idea to Buy Discount Meat For Freezing?

My local stores for some odd reason sells chicken legs for about 1.5 EUR per kg, they are not old products according to the packages. I have made a lot of chicken soup lately but I am starting to get ...
user avatar
33 votes
5 answers
12k views

Can my freezer be too cold?

The FDA recommends a freezer temperature of 0˚F (-18˚C). Warmer temperatures risk bacterial growth and quality problems. But what are the reasons not to set the freezer colder? My Bosch freezer can be ...
Doug's user avatar
  • 432
30 votes
10 answers
23k views

How to chill beer quickly?

We all know the situation. The party is about to begin, it's really hot outside and we forget to put the beer (or similar drink) into the fridge... What is your way to chill beer really fast?
Cornelius's user avatar
  • 1,825
20 votes
6 answers
12k views

Can I freeze Milk?

After a bit of miscommunication, my wife and I ended up buying 6 litres of milk between us. I don't really want to waste it, so I'm wondering if it's safe to freeze some of it and defrost and use it ...
lomaxx's user avatar
  • 5,528
16 votes
4 answers
4k views

Could I use a blast chiller to make modern frozen meals at home?

Over the last decade or so I have noticed that the quality of store-bought frozen meals has increased. And after heating, the quality of the frozen food is better than my own prepared meals that I ...
Upper_Case's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
7k views

Why peel tomatoes?

Everyone seems to think it is necessary to peel tomatoes before canning or freezing them. Since I do not peel tomatoes when I'm cooking with them (soups, salsa, etc.), I'm wondering if I can freeze ...
Rebekah's user avatar
  • 1,476
16 votes
6 answers
46k views

Does keeping a fridge/freezer full significantly help energy efficiency?

This is one of those statements I frequently encounter, but I've never really seen evidence to support it. The advice often goes even further to say that if your fridge/freezer is relatively empty, ...
Athanasius's user avatar
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15 votes
2 answers
27k views

Why does frozen food seem to have lost its original taste and texture after reheating?

I usually freeze my leftovers. Then, when I reheat them, the flavors are diminished - less salt, less chili, less everything. Any ideas why?
leiflundgren's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is there a difference between freezing meat at 26°F and 0°F?

According to this answer, you are allowed to market turkeys as fresh as long as they haven't been frozen below 26°F. What is the purpose of this law/regulation?
Philip's user avatar
  • 395
14 votes
4 answers
5k views

How do I label already-frozen bags?

We have a question about how to label things for the freezer in general, but that's for if you've managed to plan ahead. What if you have a bag in the freezer, already thoroughly frozen, so tape doesn'...
Cascabel's user avatar
  • 58k
10 votes
4 answers
3k views

Can you freeze cheese and still keep the flavor when you defrost it?

I was thinking in particular about Brie because of its soft texture...
AttilaNYC's user avatar
  • 7,506
10 votes
5 answers
1k views

How can you tell if a freezer rose above freezing?

How can one tell, after a power failure, if the contents of a freezer warmed above freezing? Knowing this, and knowing the actual temperature in the freezer, will help decide whether food can be ...
SAJ14SAJ's user avatar
  • 72.6k
10 votes
15 answers
46k views

How can I chill ice coffee quickly?

I brew coffee using a french press. After I've pressed it, how can I make it chill fast? I've tried pouring it into a wider container (larger surface area) and putting it in the freezer. This is not ...
Viktor Mellgren's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
645 views

How can I make sorbet without a recipe?

I would like to be able to make sorbet with whatever ingredients I have on hand without always looking up a recipe. I understand that it's important to get the correct balance of sugar, liquid, and ...
Stephanie's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
87k views

Can you freeze jalapenos?

It's getting colder outside and I have a lot of jalapenos in my garden. I like eating them fresh (not cooked) on homemade tacos and omelets, etc. If I freeze them and thaw them out later in the ...
LarsTech's user avatar
  • 575
8 votes
3 answers
9k views

How do I separate two fish fillets that have been frozen together?

Sometimes when I get frozen fish, it comes with several pieces frozen together (specifically, Trader Joe's does this with all of their frozen fish). Is there any good way of separating them without ...
TJ Ellis's user avatar
  • 2,972
7 votes
4 answers
134k views

How long can you freeze raw chicken before it seriously affects its taste?

The dramatic effects of freezing something almost always has an immediate impact on taste. But it seems like the longer something is in the freezer the worse it tastes. Recently, I found some months ...
Mark Rogers's user avatar