Freezing is one of the ways consumers can preserve foods and enjoy them for later, but not all foods are suitable for freezing whether their quality will decrease or pose potential health risks for those who consume them after freezing.
Via Foodnetwork, food writer Claudia McNeely explains that common food items you should not put in the freezer.
Raw potatoes
Raw potatoes will turn black in the freezer due to a chemical reaction that can only be prevented by cooking or boiling them before freezing, so be sure to cook them first before trying to store them in the freezer for later use.
Yogurt
Freezing yogurt causes the moisture inside to turn into ice crystals, messing up the original texture.
Canned food
Canned goods have a long shelf life, but if you want to freeze, the liquid inside the canned goods expands upon freezing, causing the cans to crack or explode, so you should move the canned goods to sealed, safe containers in the freezer if you need to freeze everything inside.
Canned goods should be transported to airtight containers that are safe to freeze (Al Jazeera)
Raw eggs
Although it will explode if frozen in its shell, raw scrambled eggs can be stored in the freezer, and you only need to divide them like ice cubes, and upon freezing put them in a freezer bag where they will keep for up to 6 months.
Cheese
Soft cheeses, such as ricotta or cream cheese, tend to crumble after freezing and thawing, resulting in unappetizing changes in the texture. Parmesan and cheddar are usually safe to freeze, but it's best for you to store all items in the refrigerator.
Fried foods
Fried foods such as potatoes, chicken nuggets, and onion rings lose their crunchy and crunchy texture when frozen and reheated, along with a change in their delicious taste.
According to Realsimple, Laura Fisher, a trainer and expert in the field of health, says that anything with a high percentage of water will change its texture dramatically after freezing, for example, frozen grapes are one of the snacks in the summer, But let that portion of grapes thaw, and it turns out moist and unattractive lumps.
In addition to the aforementioned foods, Fisher pointed to other foods that should not be placed in the freezer.
It is not possible to restore the taste and crispness of fried foods after they are frozen (Al-Jazeera)
Option
Cucumbers are a prime example of vegetables that are high in water and become nearly useless once frozen.
If you find yourself with a large amount of cucumbers that you cannot use, you can freeze them with brine.
mayonnaise
If you freeze the mayonnaise, it will look natural while it is still in frozen form, but once you thaw it, you will notice that the texture of the creamy spices changes dramatically, as the mayonnaise consists of oil, egg yolks, vinegar or lemon, and spices, and when melted, the liquid, the acidic components, and the floating oil separate over the base of the yolk. eggs.
Lettuce and leafy greens
Freezing leafy greens spoils their tissues and drains the water, so when thawed, the water will separate from the fibers and lose their usual shape and taste.
On the one hand, food safety expert Kevin Murphy cautions against freezing these foods.
Freezing leafy vegetables spoils their tissues and drains them (German)
Liquids in glass vessels
Murphy recommends avoiding glass bottles filled with liquids in the freezer, noting that expansion of the liquid causes glass or even metal containers to explode during the freezing process.
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Murphy recommends buying frozen vegetables and fruits at the supermarket, as manufacturers have the right equipment to properly freeze them, while fruits and vegetables lose their properties if you freeze them in the home freezer.