Freezing foods significantly extend the food’s shelf life and lower the likelihood of waste. For that reason, you may want to wrap your meal in Aluminum foil and freeze it, especially if you’re baking fish, roasting vegetables, or preparing a piece of meat for later use.
You can safely put Aluminum foil in a freezer. Aluminum foil is resistant to moisture, making it feasible for your meals to stay as fresh as they can be for an extended period. Furthermore, the foil does not tear or split even at low temperatures.
Here is a detailed guide on the safe freezing of food using Aluminum. Read along to know more about the Aluminum foil we use in our cooking!
Is It Safe To Freeze Food In Aluminum Foil?
According to USDA, it is safe to freeze food in Aluminum foil. Aluminum foil is a food-grade material that blocks light and acts as a barrier against air, moisture, and bacteria. Food that has been frozen in Aluminum foil will keep its best flavor for a longer time and is safe to eat.
Aluminum prevents light that can eventually trigger chemical reactions that could discolor the food you have preserved.
It also creates a reflecting surface that prevents heat from the atmosphere from being transferred into the frozen meal, thereby creating a stable low-temperature environment required for preservation.
Typically, the more air is excluded from the freezing material and the better wrapped your meal is, the longer it lasts without spoilage.
This emphasizes using flexible wrapping materials like Aluminum foil that can be wrapped directly to the food’s surface and act as a barrier between your food and the harsh freezer environment.
It works best with items mostly dry or enclosed in their skin, such as sausages, as they are less likely to stick to the foil when frozen. For moisturized items like chops or fish filets, always pick coated, non-stick foil so the food will release it effortlessly and without ripping.
Aluminum foil should not be directly in contact with corrosive foods. These products may react negatively with the foil and degrade over time, causing serious health issues.
Additionally, the food within may have spoiled if the foil was broken or improperly sealed as of the storage time. It’s advisable to discard the food in that situation rather than risk your health, especially if you smell an odor from the food.
How Do You Freeze Food In Aluminum Foil?
Freezing leftovers or other food items can reduce food waste. If the food is still hot and steaming, you ought to give the food time to cool. The heat from the food could leach the Aluminum from the foil into the food and result in health hazards.
Also, by skipping the cooling step, you face the possible bacteria growth leading to contamination of your food.
You should then wrap the food in a layer of plastic wrap while squeezing out air prior to using the Aluminum foil as the secondary wrap to cover the outside of the already wrapped food. This will help to prevent freezer burn.
Make sure to pad all of the sharp edges on your food. Doing this prevents the foil from being punctured so as to keep the wrapping airtight. To further protect the food from spoilage, you can double-wrap the edges to cushion it.
For the best results, use heavy-duty Aluminum foil rather than normal foil when storing food for more than a week. The former can withstand the extreme cold in the freezer without causing food spoilage.
Remember to indicate the date and day you froze the food on the label for easy retrieval. Put the food in the freezer once you’re certain that it has been properly wrapped. Also, you must move it to the freezer’s coldest area so it can be exposed to a constant low temperature.
Aluminum foil shouldn’t be used to store acidic foods since acidic products absorb Aluminum more quickly.
Will Aluminum Foil Prevent Freezer Burns?
Dry conditions in your freezer may lead to freezer burn. Typically, meat with freezer burns has an unpleasant gray color and numerous ice crystals on the surface. Particularly, for chicken, it will have a leather-like texture and several dry patches.
Aluminum foil will prevent freezer burns if food is properly stored or retrieved a few hours after being frozen. The primary objective of Aluminum foil is to keep food from coming into contact with air.
When air comes into contact with food, it dehydrates the food leading to freezer burns and a change in the meal’s flavor and odor.
That is why it is imperative to wrap the food tightly in heavy-duty Aluminum foil. Your food will stay safe and fresh for longer if the packaging is thick and durable.
The temperature inside your freezer changes when you open it frequently, and other ice crystals develop when the food begins to thaw. So, open it to maintain the cold temperatures in the freezer when required.
Nevertheless, in case of a freezer burn on your food, removing the damaged areas is advisable. Typically, a freezer burn doesn’t go very far into the food and isn’t a call for food safety concerns.
Things To Think Of When Working With Aluminum Foil
Pay major attention to the type of food you want to preserve in the freezer using Aluminum foil. Aluminum is highly reactive with low pH foods like tomatoes, certain cheeses, and extremely acidic foods.
They should not be stored using this method directly. You should always use freezer paper or parchment paper as a substitute and then apply the Aluminum foil to seal them. Aluminum contaminates food and harms people’s health; thus, caution is warranted.
Aluminum also isn’t non-stick. While working with Aluminum, always go for foods that do not stick to the foil to avoid unnecessary challenges of removing the stuck ingredients.
Dairy products are prone to contamination by bacteria. For milk-based leftovers, you should refrain from using Aluminum foil as it does little to inhibit the multiplication of microbes.
The quality of Aluminum foil you use is a variable that also needs consideration. You must be certain to use heavy-duty Aluminum foil exclusively for long-term freezer storage.
Regular varieties frequently stick to the food and break away while thawing. Thus, they’re only intended to store your food for less than a week. Thus, the composition and quality of the foil determine how well the foil works inside the freezer.
What Could You Use Instead of Foil When Freezing Food?
Aluminum foil cannot be reused and thus can result in lots of wastage. Additionally, it is not a long-term, financially sensible choice since it comes at a cost that you can exchange for cheaper substitutes.
For example, parchment paper is a viable alternative to Aluminum foil when freezing food. It contains a nonstick layer that is heat resistant, making it safe to use in the oven.
Also, it prevents foods like fish cakes or filets from sticking together. Thus, it can be used with various foods. Parchment paper contains little to no chemicals that could seep into foods and is thus more preferred to Aluminum foil, especially with foods that react with the foil.
Another excellent way to freeze food is in tempered glass containers. Tempered glass is toughened glass that has been made to withstand extreme temperatures. It does not crack or break in the freezer as regular glass does.
Glass is easily recyclable, hygienic, and multifunctional, making it indispensable for cooking, freezing, and other uses. Be cautious, though, with foods that contain water content and leave room for expansion as this can break the glass.