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Questions tagged [freezing]

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

Use this tag if you have a question about:

  • Whether or not a particular food can be frozen safely;
  • How freezing can affect the quality of a food;
  • How to prevent ice crystals, freezer burn, or other issues associated with a frozen food;
  • How to correctly prepare a food for freezing;
  • ...or any other question specifically related to storing food in a freezer

Do not use this tag for questions about pre-frozen foods (i.e. purchased frozen) unless the question is specifically about the subsequent storage of those foods.

If your question is about defrosting a frozen food, use the tag instead.

If you are concerned with the safety (as opposed to quality) of a frozen item, consider including the tag in addition to .

554 questions
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Does polenta freeze well?

Does freezing polenta substantially change its consistency? I like polenta but would prefer to make it in batches instead of every time I want to eat it. After I make it, I usually let it cool, cut it into shapes, and then pan-fry it.
Kiesa
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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 always have them in stock, so when they do appear…
CraigTP
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1 answer

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 blood. I have a few questions here: It hasn't…
mfg
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6 answers

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 kefir grains so I don't lose them due to my own…
Sobachatina
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7 answers

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, you should add something (e.g., bottles of water).…
Athanasius
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17
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9 answers

How to make large clear ice cubes

I want to make some ice cubes that are large (1" on a side or more), crystal clear, and perfectly cubical. I want them large to make my drinks dilute less slowly, and clear and cubical because I think it looks nice. When I make ice in the freezer,…
nohat
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16
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2 answers

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 them without peeling them. Does freezing/canning do…
Rebekah
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10 answers

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's difficult to tell which stews are which, and…
shennan
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3 answers

What is a refrigerator tray in older recipes?

Many older cookbooks call for filling a “refrigerator tray”. For example, in the 1960 Better Homes and Gardens Dessert Cook Book the recipe for “Banana Ice Cream” says to “Pour into refrigerator trays. Freeze till firm.” and in Anne London’s 1972…
Jerry Stratton
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16
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4 answers

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 freeze and reheat later. Vegetables, while usually…
Upper_Case
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5 answers

Is it better to freeze crepe batter or cooked crepes?

I sometimes make crepe pancakes with the following recipe: 200g of flour, 350ml of milk, 2 eggs and a table spoon of vegetable oil. I was wondering whether it was better to store the crepe batter in the freezer and cook some when I want it, or to…
Daemon Beast
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2 answers

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, sealed up one piece and placed it in the freezer -…
DMA57361
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15
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2 answers

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
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15
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6 answers

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
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15
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4 answers

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

Chicken, beef, or even shrimp? How long can I keep it there before it goes bad?
Cho
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