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Freezing and storing food
What happens when you freeze
fresh food?
Health risk caused by decom-
posing food.
If the temperature in the freezer re-
mains above 0°F (-18°C) for a long
time, the frozen food may start to de-
frost. This will reduce the storage life
of the food.
Check whether the frozen food has
started to defrost. If it has, use the
food as soon as possible or cook it
before freezing it again.
Fresh food should be frozen as quickly
as possible so that the nutritional value
of the food, its vitamin content, appear-
ance, and flavor are maintained.
If food is frozen quickly, the cells have
less time to lose moisture, so they
shrink significantly less. As there is not
so much moisture loss, it is easier for
the food to reabsorb it during the de-
frosting process, and very little water
collects around the defrosted food.
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Maximum freezing capacity
To ensure that fresh food placed in the
freezer freezes through to the core as
quickly as possible,
the maximum freezing capacity must
not be exceeded. The maximum freez-
ing capacity for freezing within a 24-
hour period is given on the data plate:
"Freezing capacity ... lbs/24 hrs".
Storing frozen food
When buying frozen food to store in
your freezer, make sure to check:
- that the packaging is not damaged
- the expiration date
- that the temperature at which the
frozen food is being stored in the
shop is 0°F (-18°C) or colder
Where possible, transport frozen food
in an insulated bag and then store it
quickly in the refrigeration appliance.
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