Frozen Food Storage - Maytag RTM1500DAE Use And Care Manual

• Fruit
and vegetable quali)" affects the length of
Packaging Foods for Freezing
storage. Quality can vary from item to item, variety to • When freezing fruits and vegetables select fresh, top-
variety and season to season. For example, a rainy quality products.
growing season can cause lettuce to be brown wben
purchased or brown more quickly. Sort fruits and • Use a freezer wrap that is air-, moisture- and vapor-
xegetables betbre storage and use bruised or soft proof. Some good choices are heaD,-du D aluminum
items first. Discard those showing signs of dec_ foil, freezer plastic wrap, polyethylene-coated fi'eezer
paper, freezer bags or airtight containers. Force as
• When storing vegetables, the crispers \4411perform mueb air out of the packages as possible and be sure
better if they are at least two-thirds full. If they are they are tightly sealed. Trapped air can cause the _bod
less than two-tbirds full, always store vegetables in to dry out, change color and develop an off-flavor
plastic bags or airtight containers to reduce moisture (freezer burn).
loss. • Fresh meats and poult_ can be left in the store
• Ahvavs wrap odorous foods such as onions and wrapping when freezing for less than twoweeks. For
cabbage so the odor does not transfer to other foods, longer storage, ovei_vrap x_dtba suitable freezer wrap.
• • • Do not refreeze meat that has completely thawed.
\_'hlle vegetables need a certain amount of moisture
to remain fresh, too nmeh moisture can shorten Loading the Freezer
storage times (especially lettuce). Be sure the • Avoid adding too nmch warm food to the freezer at
vegetables are well drained before storing. It may also one time. Th s overloads the freezer, slows the rate of
be helpihl to place a layer of paper towels in the
freezing and can raise the temperature of already
bottom of the bag to absorb any excess moisture, frozen foods.
Dairy Food • Place the packages in the coldest part of the freezer
• Store butter and margarine in the Dairy first (against thewalls orbottom of the compartment)
Compartment found in the refrigerator door. to insure the food freezes as quickly as possible.
• Most dairy.-foods such as milk, cream, sour cream and Leave a little space between tbe packages so cold air
cottage cheese have freshness dates on their cartnns can circulate.
for appropriate length of storage. Store these lbods in • Avoid storing hard-tu freeze fonds such as ice cream
the original carton and refrigerate immediately after and orange juice on the freezer door shelves. These
purchasing and each use. Close carton lids tightly to foods are best stored in the freezer interior where the
keep out air and odors, temperature varies less with door openings.
• Occasionally mold will develop on the surface of hard Foods That Don't Freeze Well
cheeses (Swiss, Cheddar, Parmesan). The moldy • Stone foods cannot he frozeu suecessfidlybecause the
areas can be trimmed away and the remaining cheese freezing causes them to deteriorate. These include:
x_411 s till be flavorful and safe to eat. potatoes (unless mashed)
Frozen Food Storage
cream fillings
cooked egg whites
The freezer compartment of a refrigerator should be sour creain
kept at 0°F or lower. To ebeck the freezer, place an salad greens
appliance thermometer between the frozen packages luncheon meat
and cheek after "24 hours. A freezer operates more soft cheeses (cream, cottage, processed)
efficiently when it is at least two-thirds full. If not this mayonnaise
flfll, it will be helpful to fill milk cartons half fldl of milk and cream
water and place them in tbe freezer, gelatin salads
Refer to the Food Storage Chart on pages 6-7 for bananas
approximate storage times. For the best results citrus fruits
when freezing foods, follow these guidelines:
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