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Freezing Tools: Equipment That is Used For Freezing

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Freezing Tools: As we all know freezing is a great way to extend your food, and also it is one of the easiest steps you can take, that will make your ingredients or food last longer. If you are satisfied with the freezer space,  you dont need any other equipment as you do for other preservation methods.

But there are a couple of tools that you need to use at the time of freezing food and having that equipment around us at that time will help us the best.

So, in this comprehensive guide, we will look into those freezing tools that help us tremendously with freezing.

Freezing Equipment

Freezing Equipment

Sometimes, when we freeze food we use many tools, to pre-freeze the food, we use ice cube trays, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and many more. We will look into those tools one by one in detail below.

Ice Cube Tray

When you think of freezing any liquids or semi-liquids this will be very helpful. Mostly, everyone will have this at home anyway. You can make cubes for milk, fruit puree, or for many more. By freezing cubes, you can use them directly in cooking, smoothies, and many more.

Cookie Scoop

It is also very helpful when you think of freezing the food in portions as it gives you the perfect weight and amount. Having this at home, it will be used in many ways not only for freezing.

Baking Sheet and Silicone Mat

This baking sheet and silicone mat are some of the best tools as they will be very useful for pre-freezing. As it is flat when you pre-freeze the food will not stick to each other. A silicone mat is also very useful by using this silicone mat in the tray, food will not stick to the tray.

These tools can also be used in baking and many more. Having this will be very helpful for you. When you buy this make sure that should fit in your freezer perfectly.

Immersion Blender or Food Processor

This will be useful for blending or mashing any type of food like potatoes, winter squash, and many more. And it will be very helpful for many things not only for freezing.

Big Bowl

This will help you to add super cold ice water so that when you blanch the veggies you can directly add them to the bowl. If you have two of them you can use them for boiling water and cold water.

Meal Prep Containers

These meal prep containers are one more popular option, that you can freeze the meal plate. You can choose any type of container that is comfortable for you and based on the items that you will have in your meal. Having these at home is not only useful for freezing, but you can also take the box directly when you go outside so that you can eat and throw it.

But before buying them make sure that they are stackable and BPA free.

Freezer Safe Containers – Air Tight Containers

These are some of the most important tools that we use for freezing. You can use these containers to freeze anything. Air-tight or freezer-safe containers will help store more amount of food items. And also freezing in these containers safeguards the food from crushing. And also you can take them out from the freezer and use them in the microwave to heat the food. Buy the one which will suit best to your needs.

Freezer Bags

This is the most important tool that we need to freeze any type of food including liquids. And also in these, we will have many types. These freezer bags will be good for storing any food item for a long time.

Because these bags will take less space than containers and we can squeeze out all the air that helps us to store the item for a long time. But when you freeze in these bags make sure that they are leakage-proof.

And always buy a pack of small and big bags. When you freeze the food in portions, there will be no waste of bags and always try to use resealable freezer-safe bags. Freezer bags are a must-have if you freeze foods regularly.

Freezer Paper or Wraps

One of the important tools for some foods is wraps. This laminated paper protects the food from freezer burns. By wrapping the paper around the food item air will not get into contact with the food item.

So that it will stay in the freezer for a long time. We have many types of wraps like plastic wrap and heavy-duty aluminum foil. By having foil you even do not need any tape.

Vacuum Sealer

This is another tool that will be useful to seal the freezer bags to maintain food in the freezer for a very long time. Sometimes when we squeeze the air, normally we cannot squeeze all the air out at that time this will be very useful. By squeezing all the air out you can store the food even longer than normal.

In a Nutshell

Hope we have provided you the complete knowledge about freezing tools. And it might be helpful for you in many ways. Feel free to share it with others if you feel this article is useful. You can check out many freezing articles on our website canyoupreserve.com.

We have covered almost all the tools that you will be needed for freezing, if you are thinking of freezing anything in the freezer regularly, these tools will be useful.

Freezing FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Freezing – Answers To All Your Questions

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Freezing Faq: Freezing food can be a good way to save money and also it is very easy. By freezing you can keep the food of good quality and you can use them for a long time. In this comprehensive guide, we are going to provide you with some of the frequently asked questions, that many people like to know.

Freezing FAQs

Is Re-Freezing Food Dangerous?

This is the common question, that many like to know about any freezing food item, but refreezing any type of food item is not a good thing. We should never freeze again and again any piece of food that is once frozen and thawed again. Because by refreezing there may be a risk of food poisoning. But some resources, tell you that refreezing food is safe as long as the food is thawed properly and safely.

But anyway, it is always best to avoid refreezing and in every article, we tell you the same thing and we give you an alternative way too which is freezing the food in portions. By this, you can only thaw the food as much as you need.

Is Microwaving Food Bad For You?

Many people say that, claiming that microwave ovens kill the nutrients that are present in your food. And also they make the food toxic, and also microwave food can lead to the risk of certain cancers. So many people will be afraid of these statements. Fortunately, there is nothing like that to be afraid of. By microwaving the food is safe and doesn’t do your food much harm. But do not use microwave plastic materials, change them frequently.

Is Blanching Vegetables Necessary Before Freezing?

Blanching vegetables is not always necessary. But by blanching it stops the action of enzymes. If the enzymes are active during freezing, that can cause undesirable changes in flavor, texture, and color and also loss of some nutrients. So blanching will reduce all these things.

Still, if you would like to know more about it like the process of blanching, why you need to blanch, and many more. you can just check out the blanching vegetable link.

What Kind of Packaging Materials Should Be Used for Freezing?

For freezing, packaging materials should always be moisture vapor resistant. And they should be durable and leakproof. Here we will provide you with some points like the kind of packaging materials that should be used.

  • Jars or containers or bags that are used for freezing should not become brittle or crack when you kept them at low temperatures.
  • And they should protect your food from the absorption of odd flavors or odors.
  • They should be easy to seal and easy to mark.

Good freezing materials are aluminum, glass, plastic, rigid containers, tin or heavily waxed cardboard, bags and sheets of moisture vapor-resistant wraps, and laminated papers made especially for freezing.

What is Freezer Burn?

Freezer burn is the dehydration or drying process that will occur on the surface of a frozen product if it is improperly wrapped. And the food will be of poor quality but it is still safe to eat. And to avoid these freezer burns, we always recommend people in our every freezing article seal the containers or bags very tightly without any leakage.

Which Type of Freezer is Best for Freezing – Chest or Upright?

It is purely based on your personal preference as well as available floor space. Normally, the upright freezer will be easier to organize any food and also it takes up less space on the floor. But the chest freezers are usually economical, to operate. So it purely depends on you.

Why are Frozen Fruits Sometimes Soft When Thawed?

If the fruits are frozen slowly there will be a chance of forming large ice crystals and rupturing cell walls which causes a soft mushy product. So, not to get soft after thawing, always freeze the fruits at -10 degrees Farhenheit and serve them.

Is Wax Paper Used as a Freezer Wrap?

No, you cannot use wax paper as freezer wrap as it is not moisture vapor resistant.

How do you Prevent Fruits from Turning Brown During Freezing?

If you would like to prevent fruits from turning brown we have many methods you can use ascorbic acid, citric acid, and lemon juice, but lemon juice will not be as effective as ascorbic acid.

Key Takeaways

Hope we have answered all your questions about freezing in this freezing faq article. Still, if you have any doubts about freezing, you can feel free to share with us, and also if you have any other tips or suggestions about freezing do comment to us in the comment section.

If you would also like to know about freezing tools, you can check it out. Bookmark our site for more latest updates.

Flash Freezing Food – Tips & Tricks To Flash Freeze – Process of Flash Freezing

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Flash Freezing: Freezing food is not giving you any satisfaction or not giving good results and throwing a lot of food after defrosting? Are you having difficulty splitting the portions? For all these, try flash freezing instead. We have many benefits from flash freezing.

By flash freezing the food you can prep the food very easily. For more things to know about flash freezing like what is flash freezing, what process or flash freezing is, tips, and many more, look into the article.

Flash Freezing

What is Flash Freezing?

Flash freezing is a process in which the food is very quickly frozen at extremely cold temperatures. Flash-freezing the products or food will help you to keep the nutrients stable even if you keep the food in the freezer for a long time and also food will be fresh and flavorful. This flash-freezing concept is used in scientific and medical research to rapidly preserve specimens.

The flash freezing concept was developed by Clarence Birdseye. By flash freezing, you can eat all types of fruits and vegetables all year round.

How to Flash Freeze Food?

Here we are going to look into the step-by-step guide to the flash-freezing process for any type of food product. Below are the steps. And before you flash freeze the product, make sure there is no other product in the freezer that is open. Because when you flash freeze the food, there will be a chance of absorbing the other food smells.

  • Now, take the baking tray or cookie sheet, and place the food on the sheet in a single layer. So that the pieces will not stick to each other.
  • You do not need to place piece by piece on the cookie sheet, but just make sure not to stick one another.
  • Now place the cookie sheet into the freezer until the food is frozen solid.
  • Make sure when you are flash freezing the food in the tray, there should be enough place to put the tray flat. Otherwise, the food will not freeze well and stick together.
  • The time to flash freeze the vegetable, fruit, or any food, depends on the size of the pieces and the kind of food you are placing.
  • After you confirm that the pieces are frozen solid, take them out from the freezer and then place them in the freezer bags.
  • Never leave the foods without wrapping as it will lead to freezer burns.

Flash Freezing Tips

To flash freeze the food, here we are going to provide you with some tips and tricks that will help you to flash freeze properly and give you the best results in flash freezing.

  • When you flash freeze the food, better to cover the tray with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. So that the food will not stick to the tray.
  • Do not wrap the foods that contain acidic ingredients, such as tomatoes or lemon juice. Because acid reacts with aluminum foil.
  • By flash freezing the products you can easily cook the food.
  • Mostly if you would like to flash-freeze the vegetables, it is better to blanch them.

Foods That Can Be Flash Frozen

You can flash freeze any type of food whether it may be raw or cooked. And that flash-frozen food can be stored for a long time. Here we are going to provide you with a list of foods that can be flash-frozen.

  • Baked cookies, scones, cake fruit pie, and cheesecake.
  • Bread, biscuits, rolls, unbaked bread dough, unbaked cookie dough.
  • Fish steaks, shrimp, and scallops.
  • Individual portions of meat, hot dogs, and steaks.
  • Fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

Foods That Cannot Be Flash Frozen

Here we are going to provide you with a list of foods that cannot be flash-frozen before freezing them. Because they may lose their flavor texture and overall quality.

  • Eggs in shells, whether raw or cooked
  • Stuffed chops or Chicken breasts
  • Battered and fried foods
  • Cooked egg whites or yolks
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Soups, stews, and other soft or liquid dishes.

Flash Freeze Without Using a Freezer

If you do not have much space in the frezer to place the cookie sheet, or if your cookie sheet is larger than the freezer size, there is another way to flash freze without a freezer to flash freze the product in a cooler with dry ice. But do it very carefully. Here are the steps to do.

  • Firstly, take enough dry ice to cover teh bottom of the cooler and metal pans to sit on the dry ice.
  • When you are doing this, just gloves.
  • Place the cookie sheet on the top, once after covering the bottom of the cooler with dry ice.
  • Wait until the product is frozen solid. And then transfer it to freezer bags.

FAQs on Flash Freezing At Home

1. Is flash freezing better?

Yes, of course, you can flash-freeze something that will help to retain the nutrients better because it retains its cellular integrity, so the cells dont get deformed.

2. How long does flash freezing last in the freezer?

Flash freezing the products is completely based on the type of product and type of pieces that you cut and based on many points, The shortest time of flash freezing is 20 minutes or so.

3. Can you flash freeze at home?

Yes, of course, you can flash freeze at home. To flash freeze at home you can freeze small items individually and bag them quickly once after they are individually frozen.

4. At what temperature you can flash freeze?

Flash freezing is the best to store the products for a long time and you can flash freeze the products at a temperature of −196 °C (−320.8 °F).

5. What liquid is most often used to flash-freeze food?

To flash freeze the food, an often used liquid is liquid nitrogen.

Key Takeaways

By flash freezing the food, you can store the food for longer without changing its texture and flavor. Hope the knowledge we have shared regarding flash freezing helped you a lot.

Still, if you have any doubts, or if you have any tips to tell us, just feel free to comment to us. For more interesting freezing articles, check canyoupreserve.com

Mastering the Art of Blanching Vegetables: A Guide to Perfectly Preserved Flavors of Veggies

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Blanching Vegetables: Whether you are cooking a recipe or trying to prepare produce Blanching is a technique that is often recommended. There are numerous perks of blanching vegetables in terms of cooking time or removing bitterness, etc.

In this article, we have covered info on What is meant by Blanching, Why Blanching is Required, Tips & Tricks to Blanch Vegetables, etc. In addition, we have outlined some of the drawbacks of the blanching technique too in the later sections.

Blanching Vegetables

What is Blanching?

Blanching is the process of plunging something into a pot of boiling water for a short period of time. Later, you need to shift the veggies into an ice water bath to halt the cooking process.

How to Blanch Vegetables?

The procedure to blanch vegetables is listed below. They are along the lines

  • Firstly, prepare the veggies right after thawing.
  • Keep a pot of water in the oven.
  • While the water is boiling make sure to keep an ice bath for veggies. If you Blanch a handful of veggies you can skip the process of placing ice cubes.
  • If the water in the pot is boiling keep the prepared veggies in the pot.
  • After the water is boiling keep a timer and place the veggies for a given time. The timing depends on the size and texture.
  • Shift the veggies into an ice bath and leave the veggies for at least 5 minutes.
  • Pat the vegetables for drying before freezing. Use paper towels to get rid of any wetness.

Why Blanching is Required?

Blanching is needed to preserve color, texture, and flavor and thus nutritional value is preserved. It even softens the food from the outside and keeps the interior crisp. The process even holds the color for a long period of time.

  • Vegetables will become crisp and bright in salads.
  • Before adding the veggies into a stir fry blanching will soften the veggies and reduces the cooking time.
  • Bitterness in veggies like cabbage, leafy greens, and onions will be removed.
  • Blanching helps to loosen the skin on certain vegetables like tomatoes and peaches and can be peeled off easily.
  • When compared to freezing, drying, or canning blanching is often considered as it gives plain texture and color.

Blanching Vegetables

Tips for Blanching Vegetables

Follow the simple tips & tricks over here while blanching vegetables. They are as follows

  • Cut the vegetables into uniform slices so that they don’t undercook or overcook.
  • Take a bigger pot and use lots of water.
  • Add salt to your water so that flavors and nutrients are not leached into the water.
  • Make sure to add enough water for the number of vegetables being blanched.
  • Keep the vegetables after boiling them in the ice bath.
  • Stir the vegetables once or twice while they are kept in water so as to ensure even cooling.

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Drawbacks of Blanching

Blanching has got its own drawbacks. It takes additional time to do so. However, it takes a time of around 20-30 minutes to blanch a small batch of veggies. The best method to do so is to mitigate it while cooking another method. One more drawback is the loss of nutrients in the process. In the boiling process veggies leach water-soluble nutrients.

Temperature destroys heat-sensitive ones. We can freeze vegetables to cook later. Cooking and reheating vegetables can reduce the risk of nutrient loss.

FAQs on Blanching & How You Do It

1. How long should you blanch your vegetables?

You can blanch your vegetables for about 3-5 minutes depending on the size of the vegetables.

2. What is the point of blanching enzymes?

Blanching prevents enzyme actions which result in loss of color, flavor, and texture.

3. Is it better to blanch or steam vegetables?

Steaming Vegetables is better as it retains more nutritional value compared to blanching.

Summary

We as a team believe the knowledge shared on our page regarding Blanching Vegetables has been useful to you. If you have any questions left unanswered feel free to ask us through the comment section so that we can get back to you. Stay connected to avail latest updates on similar kinds of articles like Can You Freeze Jalapenos and Can Freeze Leeks, etc. in the further modules.