Everyone's experienced freezer burn at some time or another. It's when the food you keep in the freezer becomes dry, tough and leathery, often covered with a thin coat of ice crystals. Freezer-burned food is pretty disgusting, but luckily, there are ways to avoid it. With the correct packing, technique and freezer rotation, you can stop it from affecting your food. Here's what you need to know.
What is freezer burn and what causes it?
In scientific terms, freezer burn is caused by oxygen hitting the surface of food. A freezer is a very dry environment, so as oxygen touches the food, it dehydrates it, leaving it dry and tough. You can usually identify freezer-burned food just by looking at it. For instance, you may see ice crystals on the surface, along with discoloured spots. Sometimes, if it is very badly freezer burned, it will shrivel up, appearing totally dehydrated.
If you maintain a freezable meal prep routine, you may have experienced freezer burn before. It's not bad for your health, but it will ruin the flavour and texture of your food. Not to mention, it will make dinner a lot less enjoyable.
How to prevent freezer burn
- Ensure food has cooled before freezing it. If it's warm, moisture will collect on the surface, which can lead to freezer burn.
- Wrap food tightly, either in aluminium foil or high-quality freezer bags. If using freezer bags, press them to remove as much air as possible before sealing them tightly.
- Label food when you put it in the freezer, writing the date clearly. Practise good freezer rotation, aiming to use everything within 3 months of freezing it.
- Keep your freezer under -18°C at all times. Do not leave the door open for long periods of time. If food thaws and refreezes, freezer burn is more likely.
- When returning food to the freezer — for example, after opening a bag of frozen peas — seal the packet as tightly as you can.
Freezer burn on meat, chicken and vegetables
In general, freezer burn is more likely to affect food with a high moisture content and high surface area. That means that cut fruit and veggies are particularly vulnerable and can develop freezer burn quickly. You may also experience problems when freezing hummus or other dishes with a high moisture content. Be sure to keep them in tightly sealed, airtight containers.
Lean meat like chicken breast doesn't have a high moisture content, but it's still vulnerable, as it has a high surface area. It should be wrapped tightly, so the entire surface is covered, to prevent freezer burn.
Can you eat freezer-burned food?
Yes. Freezer-burned food may look gross and won’t taste great, but it’s still perfectly edible. As our does freezing food kill bacteria article explains, it won’t make properly frozen food unsafe to eat, so you might want to avoid needless food waste.
There are a couple of kitchen hacks which can help you when you're trying to rescue freezer-burned food. Firstly, if only part of it has been freezer burned, just cut it off. Freezer burn affects the surface of the food, so the rest will be fine. Secondly, cook it in a moist manner — for example, braising or stewing. Grilling, roasting and other forms of dry cooking will just dry it out further and make it even less appealing.
Freezer burn prevention for long-term food storage
Apart from tightly wrapping things before freezing them, it's important to practise good freezer rotation. That means keeping track of when each item went into the freezer and using them up within a certain time, usually three months, as that's when freezer burn becomes more common.
For proper freezing and food storage, label everything you put in the freezer (make sure you write the date). If you're really organised, you may also want to keep a chart on the front of the freezer or in a document on your computer, so you know exactly what's inside. This will also help you plan meals, as you won't forget that you have frozen leftover risotto ready to reheat.
Common freezer burn mistakes to avoid
One common cause of freezer burn is allowing the freezer temperature to fluctuate. It should remain constant below -18°C. If food thaws and refreezes, freezer burn is more likely.
To prevent this, don't leave the freezer door open for long and don't overfill it. Only freeze food when it has cooled to room temperature. If freezer burn is a consistent problem for you, try using a high-protein meal delivery service. This can help reduce leftovers, as you’ll receive the right amount of ingredients for each meal, so you won’t need to rely on your freezer as often.
Preventing freezer burn FAQs
Can you eat freezer-burned food?
Yes, it’s safe to eat freezer-burned food, although it won’t taste very nice. From a health and safety point of view, freezer burn isn’t dangerous, so if avoiding food waste is a priority, you can still eat it. Trimming away the affected areas may also improve the flavour and texture.
How long does it take for freezer burn to happen?
In general, it takes about three months for freezer burn to develop. However, food that isn’t wrapped correctly can start to suffer from freezer burn in just a day or two. Removing as much air as possible before freezing helps keep food fresher for longer.
Does freezer burn make food unsafe to eat?
No. Eating freezer-burned food won’t affect your health or make you sick, but it won’t taste very nice. The problem is flavour and texture rather than food safety. As long as the food has been stored properly, it’s still safe to eat.
Can freezer-burned meat be saved?
No, but you can cut off the freezer-burned parts of the meat and eat what remains. It’s best to cook freezer-burned meat using moist methods such as stewing or braising, which can help improve its texture and prevent it from drying out further.
What foods get freezer burn the fastest?
Foods with a high surface area and high moisture content are most susceptible to freezer burn. That includes ice cream, cut fruit and vegetables. Meat, fish and chicken are also prone to freezer burn if they aren’t wrapped properly before freezing.