FROZEN FOODS

Buying Frozen Foods:

• Select packages that are clean and firm. Discolored packages and large amounts of frost may mean that the package has not been kept at the appropriate temperature during storage.

• Only buy ice-free, undamaged packages.

• Make the frozen food department your last stop in the supermarket.

• Pack all frozen food together to help maintain their cold temperature.

• Return home immediately from the supermarket and place all foods in the freezer.

• Buy frozen food from a store with an orderly, well-managed frozen food section.

• Put a purchase date on all frozen food products, then rotate foods, putting newly purchased items in the back of the freezer. Use products on a “first in, first out” basis

Frozen Food Storage Tips:

• Maintain proper freezer temperature — no higher than 0° F. Use a refrigerator/freezer thermometer to verify setting.

• Rotate and clearly date your frozen foods — first in, first out.

• Arrange the contents of your freezer in an orderly way. Store baked goods in one section, meat and fish in another, etc.

• Thaw with care, preferably at refrigerated temperatures less than 40°F., less ideally under running water no warmer than 70°F.

• Do not refreeze thawed frozen foods, for safety and quality reasons.

• Keep your freezer clean to prevent transfer of off-tastes and odors.

• Have sufficient storage space so that refrigerated air can circulate around the food.
National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association

Food safety experts recommend thawing foods in the refrigerator or the microwave oven, or putting the package in a water-tight plastic bag submerged in cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes. Gradual defrosting overnight in the refrigerator is best because it helps maintain quality.

When microwaving, follow package directions. Leave about 2 inches (about 5 centimeters) between the food and the inside surface of the microwave to allow heat to circulate. Smaller items will defrost more evenly than larger pieces of food. Foods defrosted in the microwave oven should be cooked immediately after thawing.

Do not thaw meat, poultry and fish products on the counter or in the sink without cold water; bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature.