It is essential to bear in mind the importance of food safety in frozen foods if we want to avoid any type of food poisoning. As they are easy to store, we put them in the freezer and forget about them. But the reality is that we can prevent disease by applying home security methods. One of the biggest dangers is that our freezer suffers power outages and we don’t notice. There are home methods that help us to keep food in good condition and avoid any poisoning.
Frozen foods and their preservation
Who does not have some food stored in the freezer? Meat, fish, homemade food tuppers, bread, ice cream, among many others. It is a resource that helps us to keep food in good condition for longer, either cooked by us or bought at the supermarket. However, it is very important to pay attention to the health of our freezer, because it must work optimally, without cuts and at a proper temperature. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a home freezer must have a temperature of at least -18ºC. With this temperature we make sure that the bacteria cannot proliferate and that the food is kept in good condition.
Why is it so important?
As with the food we store in the fridge, all those products that need to be kept in cold should not lose its temperature chain. The heat or higher temperatures favor the appearance of bacteria, which proliferate in warmer environments and die in cold environments. Thus, if we preserve food in both the fridge and freezer, we are preventing this from happening. This is how we extend the useful life of food and preserve its quality, but above all, we are avoiding food poisoning. The WHO warns that partial thawing can allow dangerous micro-organisms to be activated, and even if they freeze again, damage could already be done.
How can we prevent this from happening?
Before freezing a food, we must make sure that it is in good condition and that the expiration date has not passed. If it meets these requirements, it could be frozen without any problem. However, there are threats beyond the food and its state that we must take into account. It can happen that the light goes out in the house, which directly affects all our appliances.
We must be especially careful with the fridge and freezer. The freezer may also fail and turn off or not cool to proper temperature. In both cases, we must take into account the time that has been out of supply due to the cut or malfunction. If we are at home is easier to control, but, what if we are out?
How can we confirm if the freezer has lost its ability to reach the minimum temperature of -18ºC?
Homemade trick for freezers
This homemade trick is incredibly easy to do, practical and free. First, take a clear glass and fill it with water, put it in the freezer and wait for it to freeze. Once you have the glass with the frozen water, put one on the frozen surface and store it back in the freezer. Easy peasy! But, what now?
The glass with frozen water and coin will act as a homemade thermometer. If your freezer suffers some light cut while you are not home or its effectiveness begins to decline, this method will help you to realize. If the internal temperature drops, the water will also begin to lose solidity, allowing the coin to pass through. It will be so that you will be able to realize if your freezer and especially your food, are in trouble!
Do you know this home product that will leave your house as new?
