How to Store Food in the Deep Freezer and What to Put in It?

Storing Food in the Deep Freezer: What to Put?

Deep freezers are ideal for storing foods that need to be stored for a long time. Foods that can be placed in the deep freezer will save you time in the kitchen in the coming days. So, how to store deep freezer foods, what to put in the deep freezer, we have compiled them under subheadings in this content.

What are the Features of a Deep Freezer?

• Deep freezers generally operate at temperatures of -18°C and below.
• Storage capacity can vary from 100 liters to 500 liters.
• Energy classes range from A+++ to D.
• Thanks to no frost technology, icing is prevented and no ice remains on the food.
• It allows fresh foods to be frozen quickly.

Deep freezers, which help us when we want to consume foods such as vegetables, fruits, meat and fish outside of their season, have now taken their place in every home. They are indispensable for large families, working mothers and kitchens that accompany crowded guests. They are a functional white goods that come to our aid in preparing a menu faster for unexpected guests, in purchasing and preserving food at a cheap time, and in consuming overcooked food later.

The system that prevents ice and snow in the freezer section, which was common in refrigerators used in the past, with the developing technology, has a no frost feature in the deep freezer. with developing technology. Thanks to this system, snow formation and icing are prevented on the inner wall of the refrigerator. It provides more comfortable use of the freezer and faster cooling. The no frost system is on the list of features sought in deep freezers in today’s shopping.

What to Put in the Deep Freezer? What Foods Are Stored in the Deep Freezer?

Those who want to enjoy the delicious vegetables and fruits of summer in winter have already started planning their winter preparations. So, is it possible to store every food in the deep freezer, what can be put in the deep freezer? In this section of our content, we will discuss the answer to this question in detail.

Meat and fish

• Red Meat:The first answer to the question of “What to put in the deep freezer” is of course red meat. Divide red meat such as beef, lamb or mutton into portions and package them airtight. You can store these prepared meats in the deep freezer for a long time.
• White Meat:It is possible to store white meats such as chicken, turkey and fish safely in the deep freezer for months. You can freeze white meats in fillets, cubes or whole. We recommend that you clean and dry the fish before freezing. This will prevent ice crystals from forming on it.

Vegetables and fruits

• Vegetables:Vegetables can be used throughout the year if they are bought fresh and frozen in season. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, peas, peppers, and carrots should be frozen by flash freezing (keeping them in boiling water for a short time and then immersing them in cold water).
• Fruits:Wash and dry summer fruits such as strawberries, blackberries, peaches, grapes, then divide them into portions and freeze them in individual bags. You can enjoy the fruits you prepare this way throughout the winter.

Pastries and Bread

• Pastries:We continue to search for an answer to the question of “What can be put in the deep freezer?” You can freeze pastries such as pies, buns, and cakes without cooking them or after cooking them. You can store pastries by wrapping them individually or freezing them on a tray and then bagging them. If you prepare and freeze bakery products such as cookie dough and pizza dough in advance, you can cook them quickly when needed.
• Bread:If you freeze sliced ​​bread, you can quickly defrost it and consume it when needed. In this way, you can also prevent bread waste.

Ready Meals and Soups

• Ready Meals:You can freeze meals you prepare at home by portioning them. Meals such as lasagna, casserole, and stuffed squash are suitable for storing in the freezer.
• Soups:You can freeze soups such as lentil, ezogelin, tomato soups in suitable containers or bags after cooking and cooling them. Keeping the water content low and adding water while thawing helps preserve the flavor. Meat and bone broths can also be stored in the freezer.

Milk and milk products

• Cheese:Hard cheeses are especially suitable for deep-freezing. You can freeze cheese by grating or slicing it.
• Butter and Margarine:You can store butter and margarine for a long time by freezing them in their original packaging or in airtight containers.
• Milk:You can freeze pasteurized milk in small portions. Thawing the milk slowly in the refrigerator before use will ensure that it has a homogeneous structure.

Desserts

You can slice desserts such as cakes, cookies, and cupcakes and freeze them in single-portion containers.

How to Shock in a Deep Freezer?

After preparing the food that we will store in our deep freezer, we can perform the shocking process by choosing a suitable storage container. For this, we will prefer freezer-friendly storage boxes and bags. We recommend that you do not use glass bottles and boxes. The reason for this is that the volume of the frozen liquid expands and causes the glass to burst. Due to the harm that aluminum foils do to the human body, using transparent refrigerator bags will be more beneficial for your health and the life of the food.

To perform deep freezing, you can follow these steps:

• Chop or slice food products into appropriate portions.
• Breaking large pieces into smaller pieces speeds up the freezing process.
• Place foods in airtight freezer containers or freezer bags to prevent air exposure.
• If you are using a freezer with a fast freezing function, place the food in the fast freezing compartment.
• Set the freezer temperature to -18°C or lower.
• The time required for foods to freeze completely is usually between 2-4 hours, although thick and dense foods like meat may take longer to freeze.

How to Store Eggplant in the Deep Freezer?

We all know that prices of vegetables and fruits are more affordable in the summer. So what should we do when we want to consume plenty of vegetables and fruits in the winter?

It would be a more economical decision to buy plenty of it in the summer and store it in the freezer under appropriate storage conditions. Eggplant, the most compatible companion of meat, is also affected by the market seasonally. When we want to make karniyarik or eggplant kebab on winter evenings, eggplant will come to our rescue as dishes stored in the deep freezer.

After a short frying, roasting and resting process, we can store the eggplant in the deep freezer as we store other vegetables. After roasting, the eggplants can be stored as roasted or, if you wish, you can slice them raw or cut them into cubes and freeze them.

How to Store Stuffed Grape Leaves in the Deep Freezer?

We know that stuffed vine leaves are a must for guest and special invitation tables, one of the dishes prepared with olive oil that no one can say no to, and everyone loves them. Although it is a bit laborious and time consuming, stuffed vine leaves can be a good choice to meet the need for ready meals in the deep freezer.

If you want, you can keep the stuffing, or if you want, you can wrap the stuffed vine leaves and store them raw in boxes or storage bags. Either way, it will help you with meal preparation.

How to Store Okra in the Freezer?

You can consume okra, which you think of as a vegetable that should be eaten in season, in any season, thanks to the deep freezer. The process you need to do for this is very practical: clean the okra well, soak it in lemon water, fry it with fresh tomatoes and store it in a refrigerator bag.

You can store okra safely in the freezer by following the steps below.

• Wash the okra thoroughly and dry it.
• Immerse the okra in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then immediately place in cold water.
• Divide the shocked okra into portions, pack them in airtight refrigerator bags and place them in the deep freezer.

How Long Does Meat Last in the Deep Freezer?

The most laborious task of the Eid al-Adha rush is chopping the meat and storing it in the deep freezer. The minced meat is minced, packaged for meals and immediately takes its place among the things stored in the deep freezer. So how long does it take to consume the stored meat?

Did you know that there are also some misconceptions about how long meat should be stored in the freezer ?

The storage period of meat in the deep freezer is not long. A healthy period of 6 months is a period of time. We recommend that you store smaller meats such as offal and ground meat in the deep freezer for a maximum of 3-4 months. The freezing period of open packaged and processed products (sausage-salami, etc.) is recommended as a maximum of 2 months.

Since fats have a short life in the freezer, we recommend that you store meats by separating their fats. This way, your meat dishes will not lose their flavor.

How to Store Fish in the Deep Freezer?

Another answer to the question of what can I store in the deep freezer is fish! In order to store fish in the freezer without losing its freshness, it is recommended to clean the organs that spoil quickly first. You can store all cleaned fish species in your freezer after a short salting process. The salting process keeps the fish fresher.

We recommend that you store small fish like anchovies for a maximum of 3 months, and larger fish like bonito for a maximum of 6 months. It would be healthier to consume your meals taken from the freezer immediately after they are defrosted in the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions About Deep Freezers

What to Store in the Winter Freezer?

What to put in the deep freezer? Foods you can store in the deep freezer for winter preparations are:

• Meat and Fish:Red meat, chicken, turkey and fish.
• Vegetables:Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, leeks, bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, okra, and green beans.
• Fruits:Strawberries, blackberries, peaches, apricots, plums and cherries.
• Pastries:Pies, pastries, cakes, cookie dough.
• Ready Meals:Soup, lasagna, casserole, and stews.
• Dairy Products:Cheese, butter and margarine.
• Bread and Bakery Products:Bread, pizza dough.

Which Foods Cannot Be Stored in the Deep Freezer?

Here are the foods that are not suitable for deep freezing:

• Vegetables with High Water Content:Vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce, celery, etc. lose their structure when frozen.
• Scrambled Eggs:The texture of scrambled eggs changes after freezing and their flavor disappears.
• Mayonnaise and Cream:Due to their high fat content, these products may separate when frozen.

Which Fruits Are Placed in the Deep Freezer?

Some fruits that can be stored in the freezer are:

• Strawberries, Blackberries and Raspberries:After they are washed and dried, they can be frozen individually and bagged.
• Peaches and Apricots:Can be frozen after slicing and pitting.
• Plums and cherries:Can be pitted and frozen.
• Banana:Can be peeled, sliced ​​and frozen.

Can Glass Bottles Be Placed in the Deep Freezer?

Glass bottles are not suitable containers for deep freezing because liquids expand when they freeze. This can cause the glass bottle to crack or burst . Instead, use freezer-safe plastic containers or freezer bags.

Can Raw Vegetables Be Placed in the Deep Freezer?

Yes, many raw vegetables can be stored in the freezer. However, it is recommended to flash-freeze vegetables (put them in boiling water for a short time and then place them in cold water).

Can Peas Be Put Raw in the Freezer?

Yes, peas can be frozen raw. You can store peas safely in the freezer by following the steps below.

• Wash the peas.
• Wait for 1-2 minutes in boiling water after washing the peas, then immediately put them in cold water.
• Separate the shocked peas into portions, package them and place them in your deep freezer.