A food item from the freezer that has suffered freezer burn is not really dangerous. However, it is no longer a great pleasure to eat.
That’s why freezer burn is not dangerous
If you freeze food, freezer burn can occur due to the additional air supply. The outer layers of the food dry out completely, causing them to turn white, grey or brown in colour and sometimes look slightly burnt. Something that doesn't seem very appetising will spoil the enjoyment even after it has been thawed.
- If you defrost the food with freezer burn, these dried out areas cannot absorb moisture again and remain tough. In addition to the taste and the usual consistency, they also lose a lot of nutrients.
- It's not tasty, but on the other hand it's not dangerous either. The reason for freezer burn is not pathogenic bacteria, but too much air. This causes the water on the food to evaporate, even if it's deep-frozen.
- Leaky or loose packaging that retains a lot of air can cause freezer burn, as can, for example, greatly fluctuating temperatures while you are transporting the frozen goods.
- You can still eat food that has freezer burn, although it will most likely no longer be a great treat.
How to avoid freezer burn
You can prevent freezer burn by following a few steps when freezing food:
- Pack items to be frozen in an airtight manner, for example in flexible freezer bags. Make sure that the food is tightly packed and that there is not too much room for air.
- As with vacuum sealing, you should squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the freezer bags with contents.
- If possible, do not interrupt the cold chain after purchasing frozen food. This means that you should definitely use a good cool box for transport.
- One method to prevent freezer burn is to glaze frozen food. Freeze the food unpackaged on a plate in the freezer for two hours, then pour cold water all around or dip the food in it before refreezing everything. Once the layer of ice is solid, you can pack everything in an airtight container and store it in the freezer.