6 Foods You Should Never Freeze, Surprisingly (2024)

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6 Foods You Should Never Freeze, Surprisingly? ›

Lettuce and Other Greens

Some foods with high water content, like lettuce and soft greens, don't maintain their shape and texture once frozen and thawed, which is why you should never freeze these leafy greens "unless you intend to use them in soups or smoothies," Jeanine Donofrio of Love & Lemons cautions.

Lettuce and Other Greens

Some foods with high water content, like lettuce and soft greens, don't maintain their shape and texture once frozen and thawed, which is why you should never freeze these leafy greens "unless you intend to use them in soups or smoothies," Jeanine Donofrio of Love & Lemons cautions.

Any vegetable or fruit that has a high water concentration, like celery, cucumber, salad greens, and watermelon will not survive the freezer because the water inside quickly forms ice crystals.

For example, frozen grapes are a favorite snack, especially in the summer. But if you let those grapes defrost, they become soggy unappealing lumps. For anything with a lot of water, it's best to freeze it only if you plan to use it in cooking—it just won't be the same raw.

Macaroni absorbs moisture from the sauce as it freezes and thaws, so the best recipes for freezing are those that start with a big pot of creamy, cheesy sauce. If using a baked mac and cheese recipe, freeze the prepared (unbaked) mac and cheese, then bake once thawed and ready to serve.

Most milk is freezable and will maintain its quality if frozen for up to 3 months. People can also freeze soy milk and other dairy alternatives as well as breast milk. It also allows households to have a backup milk supply when they are running low.

You absolutely can freeze potatoes, and you should if you have an excess of spuds. But there's one important thing to remember: You should really only freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, as raw potatoes contain a lot of water. This water freezes and, when thawed, makes the potatoes mushy and grainy.

Whenever it is unlikely that the core temperature will reach the required level for the correct amount of time then food should not be cooked directly from frozen. This is often the case for large joints of pork, rolled beef joints and large poultry. There is then an increased risk of food poisoning.

What drink does not freeze? ›

In general, liquor will not freeze though beer and wine will, though it's not always guaranteed.

The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only—frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely.

Some of the best leftover foods to freeze include cooked chopped meats, casseroles, pizza, soup, tomato sauce, breads and baked goods. Leftovers that don't like the freezer include hard boiled eggs, stuffed and uncooked meats like chicken breast and pork chops, cold tuna and pasta salads.

You can! Just make sure to cool the spaghetti completely before freezing, transfer properly in an airtight container or freezer bag, and label it with the date. Can you freeze cooked pasta with sauce? You can, but if possible, it is best to freeze the sauce and pasta separately for best texture.

Can you freeze garlic cloves? The answer is a resounding yes. Garlic is pretty versatile when it comes to freezing. You can freeze raw whole unpeeled bulbs, individual cloves (peeled or unpeeled), or chopped garlic.

Remember that freezing does not kill bacteria, only prevents the microbes from multiplying. So thawed food will have some bacteria that can multiply at room temperature, meaning that if the food is refrozen, there will be an increase in bacterial count by the time it is thawed again.

Bananas can also be frozen whole, which is best for applications like making banana bread or using the fruit as an egg replacement. "Peel [the bananas and] bag them like a row of open parentheses in a single layer," says Weinstein.

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), you can freeze eggs for up to one year. When you're ready to use frozen eggs, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or under running cold water. Use egg yolks or whole eggs as soon as they're thawed.