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Expert Q&A

	By Dawn Wise Dawn Wise Chef Author: The Online Cookbook, Wise Publications

How should I wrap/pack foods to avoid freezer burn?

Freezer burn is nasty and ruins your food. If I discover a package in my freezer with only a small area burned, I will try to remove the damaged area first before I give up on the whole package. You need to use your best judgment.

A good way to avoid freezer burn is to either rewrap or add a second wrap to your foods. Many people assume the packages that foods, such as meat come in, are o.k. for the freezer. These are only a thin covering to keep the meat fresh. These packages need to be removed and the contents rewrapped in foil. I then place the parcel in a freezer bag to avoid any juices leaking and freezer burn. I do freeze in the store wrappings if I only plan to freeze for a few days or up to a week. It is still a good idea to place any meat in freezer bags. You always want to avoid cross contamination of any food by having juices leak from one food onto another.

To freeze vegetables and fruits, check your cookbooks for individual directions. Most vegetables need to be precooked or blanched first and then many books recommend freezing the veggies on cookie sheets first, before bagging. For fruits, I usually freeze these in freezer bags for later use. I wash and slice all fruits but berries (except strawberries) prior to freezing and drain or dry well. Berries will become watery and mushy if washed prior to freezing. The freezer bags usually work quite well, but you can be extra careful and wrap the fruit or vegetables in foil first.

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