Food Safety Feature Articles
Spring cleaning – in the freezer
Janet Hackert, regional nutrition and health education specialist, Harrison County, University of Missouri Extension
While spring seems to be playing hide and seek with
us this year, perhaps this is a good time for spring
cleaning, in the freezer that is.
If a freezer does not automatically defrost, it is a
good idea to defrost it occasionally. Defrost manual
models at least once each year or more often if the
frost is 1/4-inch thick or more. Although it is most
efficient to operate a freezer full or near full, the
best time to defrost is when the freezer is somewhat
empty. For food safety reasons, be sure the process
takes two hours or less with food sitting out of the
freezer.
Unplug the freezer for this process. Place frozen
food in insulated coolers or in newspaper-lined
cardboard boxes to keep food cold. Remove frost by
following the manufacturer’s instructions. A plastic
spatula or wooden spoon can be used to scrape out ice.
And a towel in the bottom of the freezer can help catch
water and frost as things melt.
When the freezer is frost free, wipe it out with a
solution of one tablespoon baking soda per quart of
water to clean and freshen the interior. Sponge clean
with water only and dry with a towel or cloth.
Turn the freezer back on and close the door to let it
cool down again. After about 15 to 30 minutes, when
chilled, replace the frozen food. Since these items have
been out of the freezer, mark them for first use. The
freezer should be operated at 0°F or colder.
While the food is out, this is a good time to cull out items that need to be used sooner than later. MU Extension guide sheet MP 689, A Quick Consumer Guide to Safe Food Handling has a chart showing recommended freezer storage times. If food has been in the freezer longer than that, quality concerns may become an issue. Anything unidentifiable may just need to be tossed or composted to make ready for the coming planting and harvesting when new items will need to be stored.
Source: “So Easy to Preserve,” 5th Ed, 2006, Bulletin 989, Cooperative Extension Service, The University of Georgia, Athens.
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Last update: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
