Can I refreeze frozen food?
You are advised not to refreeze frozen food. The main reason is to avoid the risks caused by improper defrosting methods. Freezing stops any bacteria found naturally in foods from growing, but the effect only lasts until the food is defrosted. Once frozen food is thawed, the bacteria become active again. Hence, we strongly recommend that thawed foods should be cooked as soon as possible.
However, do note that frozen ingredients can be cooked and then frozen again. Once you have cooked your food, you should wait until it has completely cooled to room temperature before placing it in a Tupperware container and then storing it in the freezer. The food will now be stored safely
until you decide to warm it up and eat it!
How does freezing preserve foods?
It is impossible for bacteria to multiply on frozen food - which makes it safer than any other form of food preservation.
Foods today are flash frozen. This process, which freezes the water found naturally in the food into smaller ice crystals, minimises cell structure damage. Quick-freezing foods and then storing them at temperatures of -18°C or lower slows the natural degradation process to practically non- existent.
So, do make sure you store your frozen food correctly and it will certainly retain its colour, texture, nutritional value and taste.
What temperature should my freezer be?
Most home freezers should operate at temperatures of -18°C or lower. A rule of thumb is that if your freezer cannot keep ice cream solid, it is a sign that its temperature is above the recommended level.