Right here, we’ve consulted meals security specialists to share their insights on the perfect cleansing frequency and the best methods to maintain your freezer bacteria-free. When you’ve given it a deep clear, you possibly can breathe a sigh of reduction, figuring out that your meals will keep recent and your freezer will run effectively.
How lengthy does meals final within the freezer?
In line with the USDA, frozen meals will stay secure indefinitely if correctly frozen, however the size of time you retailer these meals within the freezer may have an effect on their high quality. Registered dietitian and meals security knowledgeable Carrie Gabriel, RD, tells us, “Meats like bacon, sausage, beef, and poultry are good within the freezer [for] a mean of three to 4 months. Soups and stews are good within the freezer [for] a mean of two to 3 months.”
The important thing right here is ensuring that the meals are correctly frozen within the first place. In line with Ashley Hawk, RD, among the tell-tale indicators that one thing has not been frozen accurately, and subsequently, has potential indicators of contamination embody:
- Items of meat turning grey or dropping their coloration
- Shiny greens wanting uninteresting
- Meals feeling sticky
- Proof of spills
- Meals is partially thawed
Correct freezer storage requires sealing meals in an hermetic container and freezing it rapidly. On the whole, “it’s best to toss these items after six months, particularly if an merchandise has freezer burn or ice crystals surrounding it. It’s possible the style and texture of the meals shall be disagreeable,” Gabriel says.
How usually do you have to clear your freezer?
Whereas discarding previous meals is one essential a part of sustaining a clear freezer, it’s additionally necessary to continuously give the entire thing a very good scrub. Seems, freezers aren’t simply magical ice bins that by no means want consideration—they really respect slightly TLC. So how usually do we have to add this process to our to-do listing? “A weekly fast wipe down, involving cleansing the cabinets and corners to forestall micro organism buildup is right, however you actually solely want a deep clear every year,” Gabriel says.
Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll must deep clear your freezer extra usually. “If you happen to expertise energy outages or main meals spills. Positively examine your fridge handbook to see in case your mannequin requires extra common cleansing,” Gabriel explains.
clear a freezer correctly
So how precisely are you purported to deep clear a freezer? Hawk walks us via this pretty easy, three-step course of.
1. Take away meals and cabinets
Begin by unplugging the freezer to cease it from operating. Take away all of the meals gadgets from the freezer, putting perishable gadgets in a cooler or one other freezer to maintain them chilly when you are cleansing. In case your freezer has a big buildup of ice, go away the door open and permit the ice to soften.
2. Clear with multipurpose cleaner spray
As soon as the ice has melted, wipe up the water with towels. Put together a cleansing answer by mixing equal elements of heat water and dish cleaning soap. Utilizing a sponge, completely wipe down all surfaces, together with cabinets, drawers, and the freezer partitions. After cleansing, rinse all surfaces with clear water, after which dry all the pieces with a clear towel.
3. Toss previous meals earlier than restocking
Earlier than turning the freezer again on, guarantee all surfaces are fully dry to forestall new ice from forming. Plug the freezer again in and kind via your frozen gadgets, discarding something expired or freezer-burned. When restocking the meals, be sure you label it with the date it was first frozen. This can allow you to maintain observe of the meals’ freshness and cut back the overdue buildup of outdated gadgets.
