What is freezer burn?
“Freezer burn” is a condition which occurs when moisture evaporates from the surface of foods in the freezer and causes the food to dry out and become discolored. While freezer burn does not affect food safety, it does reduce food quality. Freezer burned spots can be cut away before or after cooking. If a food is heavily freezer-burned, it may be desirable to discard it. Air removal, moisture-vapor-resistant packaging, a tight seal and appropriate storage time and temperature help prevent freezer burn. Storage with the Reynolds Handi-Vac Vacuum Food Storage System helps protect your food from freezer burn by virtually eliminating freezer burn.
Simply put, freezer burn is when the food in your freezer gets dehydrated from the freezer unit sucking out the moisture from the food. This is because the food wasn’t wrapped tightly enough to prevent evaporation of the moisture in whatever you’re freezing. It’s still okay to eat, but it probably tastes yucky. The best way to prevent freezer burn is to seal food very well in sealed storage bags before freezing.
When food comes out of the freezer with dry areas, spots of discoloration, and formations of ice crystals, it is said to have freezer burn, sometimes seen written as “freezerburn.” While freezer burn is unsightly, it does not have an impact of the safety of the food, and foods which have been freezer burned can be eaten. However, it does alter the quality, and severely freezer burned food may be tasteless or have a distinctly metallic flavor. For this reason, most people try to avoid freezer burn. Freezer burn is caused by exposure to air and subsequent loss of moisture. If food is packaged poorly for the freezer, the water molecules in the food will start to leach out, leaving dry spots which may become discolored. As the water molecules rise to the surface of the food, they tend to form dense areas of ice crystals. Several things can minimize freezer burn. The first step is to keep the freezer as cold as possible. Fluctuating temperatures can contribute to freezer burn, especially if
