CHAPTER 2: MAINTAINING A PROPER FREEZER TEMPERATURE

As we have said, you will first want to make sure that you have put your freezer in the right place in order to give it optimal working conditions. Then you will want to check the temperature settings in your instruction manual.

If you have just bought a new freezer, you will need to allow at least 24 hours for it to get up to full coolness. Then you can gradually start filling it. You will want to start your make and freeze cooking about 36 hours after it has been plugged in to be certain that it will freeze your food well.

The invention of the freezer was a giant step in food preservation because freezing food stops bacterial growth. Having the ability to quickly chill down food and store it at a temperature where bacteria doesn’t grow means that food can be kept for a long time without spoiling.

The bad news is that freezing will not kill off ALL the bacteria present in food, so as soon as the frozen food starts warming up, the bacterial decay will start up again too. This is why you really do not want to keep a lot of cooked food on hand in your refrigerator. Use it, or freeze it, if it can be frozen, or eat it. Otherwise, it will just end up in a landfill, producing even more bacteria and greenhouse gases that damage the environment.

When you get your freezer, or a new refrigerator with a freezer section, be sure to set the settings according to the instructions. This will be especially important for any vents that can be opened or closed between the refrigerator space and the freezer. For example, your refrigerator will often receive cold air from the freezer for a specially chilled bin, such as one designated for meat. If it gets too much cold air, however, the freezer will not work as well as it should, and the food in the refrigerator might start to freeze also.

Be sure to check the factory settings. They might be too cold and make the unit overheat as it overworks, causing it to not operate efficiently.

While water begins to freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, most foods need a much lower temperature, about –10 degrees Fahrenheit, in order to start to freeze properly. The perfect temperature for storing frozen food is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, many people do not have the luxury of owning two freezers, one they can set for initially freezing the food and another only set to store the food, so a good compromise is around –7 degrees Fahrenheit. This will store food without damaging it and also allow it to freeze quickly to prevent large ice crystals from forming. Smaller ice crystals mean less chance of food dehydration and oxidation, leading to freezer burn.

Therefore, while it is good to store food at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the freezer should really be colder in order to freeze food quickly and also have more room to fluctuate in temperature when opening the door and especially when adding new foods.

Contrary to popular belief, temperature is not the sole cause of freezer burn, nor is it just because the food’s wrapping might get punctured or torn, though these can be contributing factors. Freezer burn is the result of dehydration of your food by the air. As the moisture leaves the food, it escapes into the air in the freezer. Keeping your freezer at the proper temperature will help to control the level of moisture in the air. The cooler the temperature is in the freezer, the less it will heat up while putting new food in. The less the freezer heats up, the less moisture will be released into the air, and the less the food will dry out.

One of the best ways to keep your freezer cold and keep your operating expense down is to keep your freezer full. A full freezer will stay colder longer and it is easier to keep frozen foods cold rather than try to cool all the air in the relatively empty freezer. While a full freezer will keep food cold for two days during a power outage, a half full freezer will only keep food cold for about 12 hours. Many foods can be kept well even after a power outage, such as vegetables, but any meat and fish should be eaten as soon as possible after the incident rather than kept around for the usual upper safety limit of keeping food in the freezer, generally thought to be about three months.

If you are concerned about food spoilage in the hot summer months and don't want to keep too much on hand, then pantry items such as flour, dry beans or rice can be added to fill up space in the freezer to help it keep running efficiently. A few make and freeze recipes that are meatless should help fill the space in no time. Just be sure to keep your list updated with what you have on hand, and what you need to make. It will also save a lot of time in the grocery store or at the farmer’s market as well if you keep your freezer list well-organized. 

The list for this guide is at:
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com/even-more-freezer-recipes
password: fastandtasty

We provide a recipe list in all of our freezer guides to help you stay on top of your inventory and when you need to make more of your family's favorites.

While many people leave their freezer dial where it was set when it came from the store, it is important to actively look at and adjust your freezer temperature. Make sure it is set between 0 and –10 degrees Fahrenheit, with the ideal temperature to be about –7 F degrees. Take the time to read your guide for best results. If it does not seem cold enough, for example, or starts frosting up, read the frequently asked questions section of the guide or go online for help at the manufacturer's website.

Once you get into the routine of keeping your freezer at a certain temperature and full of great make and freeze recipes, you will be amazed at the difference between the quality of your food and the amount of your electric bill. You will also be delighted at how much time, effort and food you save. The main thing you will wish to learn with respect to make and freeze recipes are freezing techniques that can help you get the most out of your food. Let’s have a look at some in the next chapter.