Food Science: What is Freezer Burn and How to Prevent It (2024)

FAQs

Food Science: What is Freezer Burn and How to Prevent It? ›

"Freezer burn is prevented if a product is packed in tight-fitting, water-proof, vapor-proof material," writes Evans. Creating a physical barrier between your food and the cold air prevents moisture evaporation from turning into ice crystals. It's important to remove as much exposure to air as you can.

Keeping your freezer door open too long can cause the compartment's temperature to fluctuate, increasing ice crystal formation that leads to freezer burn. Be sure to close the freezer door quickly after grabbing your favorite foods.

Freezer burn happens when moisture in the outer layers of the food evaporates into the freezer air, leaving behind empty “dry” pockets in the tissue of the food. This is technically a process of chemical sublimation and is actually done intentionally when making freeze-dried foods.

Freezer burn appears as grayish-brown leathery spots on food and is caused by air reaching the surface of the food. Freezer burn does not make food unsafe, merely dry in spots. Cut freezer-burned portions away either before or after cooking the food.

Remove as much air as possible from the packaging of frozen fruits and vegetables, and use small containers to minimize any empty space when freezing leftovers. You can also cover the top of ice cream with freezer paper or plastic wrap before replacing the lid.

Aluminum Foil: Aluminum foil can be reused and is a great way to preserve food in the freezer! Just make sure to wrap it tightly to avoid holes for air to get in and you can also seal up with freezer tape to keep things extra-secure!

If you're particularly concerned about freezer burn, cover the surface of the liquid with plastic wrap, smooth the plastic so that it makes contact over the surface of the food, then put the lid on the container. Using freezer-safe airtight containers helps too.

Freezer burn can vary in appearance depending on its severity and what kind of food it's affecting. A dead giveaway is spotting a layer of ice crystals on your food. On items like meat, you can also see patches of gray or brown discoloration that may also have a leather-like texture.

To treat an ice burn, remove the source of cold and slowly warm your skin to bring it back to its normal temperature. To warm your skin: Soak the affected area in warm water for 20 minutes. The water should be around 104˚F (40˚C), and no more than 108˚F (42.2˚C).

In general, freezer burn is caused by water evaporating from the stored food item and can most easily be prevented by tightly wrapping your food, removing as much air as possible. While flavor and texture will undoubtedly suffer when food has been freezer burned, it is still safe to eat.

Do ziploc bags prevent freezer burn? ›

Ziploc pint-sized freezer bags combat freezer burn while keeping food fresh. Start using our food storage bag solutions to protect your food and save money.

Wax freezer paper and butcher paper are more effective than conventional plastic wrap. "Wrapping your item tightly in waxed freezer paper can act as a barrier against the harsh air inside the freezer and can also prevent water from evaporating," says Pace.

Wrap Food With Extra Protection

Because freezer burn is caused by exposure to air, creating a barrier by wrapping it can help prevent unnecessary burning. Using plastic wrap, wax paper, butcher's paper, or aluminum foil will work, but cannot be the sole barrier.

So why did this happen? Most likely, your food was not tightly wrapped enabling water molecules to escape and seek a better location. The temperature of your freezer may have been above 0 degrees F. Freezer burn will set in from fluctuating temperatures above 0 degrees F.