You don’t keep a bread in the freezer for years. And after a few months a pound of minced meat really has to leave your freezer, advises the Nutrition Center. But why can’t you keep frozen food endlessly?
Microbiologically, you stop the whole world when you put a product in the freezer. It is there -18 degrees and all microbiological decaying processes have been stopped, says Marcel Zwietering, professor of food microbiology at Wageningen University & Research.
“But there are other spoilage reactions. Vetoxidation, for example, so that meat, ice or other fatty products can become rancid. That doesn’t taste good, but you really don’t get sick. Products like bread can dry out. A fresh piece of bread is tasty, a slice from the freezer really tastes a little less.”
Nutritional value does not decrease in the freezer
The longer your food there is, the more you hand in on quality, says Zwietering. “The nutritional value is not deteriorating. It all tastes a bit less.”
But leave a piece of meat that has been lost somewhere in a distribution center for two years. That is too long and the meat can taste rancid. “I don’t like waste, so I would eat something from my own freezer after a year,” says the microbiologist.
The texture of foods also changes to the freezer. A fresh strawberry has a sturdy bite, but a strawberry from the freezer is soft. It is pretty tasty, but it is a different experience. “Such a soft strawberry is not wrong on your ice. But I would alternate with a fresh strawberry.”
A frozen banana will stay good for a year
The Nutrition Center provides free stickers for freezers to remind consumers when they have to eat their frozen food. The advice is a month for a bread and two months for pork. A banana can be no less than a year.
Why the Nutrition Center does that? “If the Nutrition Center – which has the task of advising the consumer – tells us that it is infinitely shelf life, then we are disappointed if we eat a slice of bread after five years.” That sandwich is then dry by a physical process that takes place in the freezer, Zwietering explains. It also matters whether the package has been open. “You don’t have to follow those advice very strictly.”
An ice cream manufacturer will ‘at least be kept to’ (THT) and put a date on his product to encourage consumers to eat the ice if it is tastiest. If you take a bite of rancid ice after five years, the manufacturer does not want to be responsible for that. Always keep using your senses, the Nutrition Center advises. Does it smell, tastes or does something look dirty and spoiled? Then don’t eat it.
View, feel, taste and smell your food
The THT date is slightly different from the so-called TGT date. The latter variant is strict advice, the Nutrition Center emphasizes. TGT stands for ‘to be used to’. A TGT date is on foods that you can only keep for a short time, such as meat, fish, pre-cut vegetables, chilled meals and fresh fruit juices. “After that date, the products can be unsafe, but you can’t always see, smell or taste it. But by freezing, you can keep them longer, because you then stop the microbiological process.”
If you are going to freeze yourself, remember a few adjustments. Always freeze small portions, then you don’t have to defrost a 2 -liter pea soup container. Defrosting something and then putting it back in the freezer is not recommended. “By thawing and freezing again, the ice crystals are getting bigger and bigger. They puncture the cells. The texture becomes weaker and weaker. That is a quality problem.”
Even more freezing tips
You should store Bread in The Freezer for Years. And a pound of ground meat really needs to come out of your freezer after a few months, accordance to the nutrition center. But Why Can’t You Store Frozen Food Indefinitely?
Microbiological Speaking, you put the whole world on hold when you put a product in the freezer. It is -18 Degrees there and all microbiological spoilage processes are stopped, Says Marcel Zwietering, Professor of Food Microbiology at Wageningen University & Research.
“But other spoilage reactions do occur. Fat oxidation, for example, which can cause meat, ice cream or other fatty products to Become rancid. That Doessn’t tastes tasted very good, but it won’t really make you sick. Slice from the Freezer Really Tastes A Bit Less. “
Nutritional Value Does Not Decrease in the Freezer
The Longer Your Food is Stored, The More You Lose in Quality, Says Zwietering. “The Nutritional Value Does Not Deteriorate. It just all tastes a little less.”
But Leave A Piece of Meat That Has Been Lost Somewhere in A Distribution Center for Two Years. That is too long and the meat May Taste Rancid. “I Don’t Like Waste, So I would Still Eat Something from My Own Freezer After a Year,” Says the Microbiologist.
The texture of food also changes in the freezer. A Fresh Strawberry has a firm bite, but a strawberry from the freezer is soft. That is QUITE Tasty, but it is a different experience. “Such a soft strawberry is not bad on your ice cream. But I would alternate it with a fresh strawberry.”
A Frozen Banana Will keep for a year
The Nutrition Center Provides Free Stickers for Freezers to Remind Consumers When to Eat Their Frozen Food. The Advice is one months for a loaf of bread and two months for pork. A Banana can be disturbed for lung as a year.
Why Does The Nutrition Center do That? “If the nutrition center – which has the task of advising the consumer – tells us that it has an infinite shelf life, then we are disappointed if we eat a slice of bread after five years.” That Sandwich is then dry due to a physical process that takes place in the Freezer, Zwietering Explains. It also Matters Whether the Packaging Has Been opened. “You don’t have to follow that advice very strictly.”
An Ice Cream Manufacturer Will Put a ‘Best Best Best’ Date On Its Product to Encourage Consumers to Eat the Ice Cream When it Tastes Best. If you take a bite of rancid ice cream after five years, the manufacturer does not want to be responsible for that. Always continuous to use your senses, advises the nutrition center. Does something smell, taste or look dirty and spoiled? Then don’t eat it.
Look, Feel, Taste and Smell Your Food
The ‘Best Before’ Date is different from the so-called ‘use by’ date. The Letter Variant is a Strict Advice, Emphasizes The Nutrition Center. ‘Use by’ stands for ‘use by’. A ‘Use by’ Date is on foods that you can only store for a short time, Such as Meat, Fish, Pre-Cut Vegetables, Chilled Meals and Fresh Fruit Juices. “After that date, the Products May be unsafe, But you cannot always see, Smell or Taste that. But by Freezing Them, You can store them Longer, Becoause you then the Microbiological Process.”
If you are going to freeze something yourself, remember a few rules. Always Freeze Small Portions, So You Don’t Have To Defrost a 2 Liter Container or PEA Soup. Defrosting Something and then Putting It Back In The Freezer is not incoming. “By defrosting and reflecting, The Ice Crystals Become Larger and Larger. They Prick the Cells. The Texture Becomes Waker and Waker. That is a Quality Problem.”