The freezer extends the life of food, but it doesn’t do magic. The sooner we freeze food and the fresher the product is, the better and longer it will keep, although we cannot always plan as far in advance as we would like. If a food is still in good condition, it is possible to freeze it, but when it is around deadline you have to take some precautions.
Let us remember that freezing only slows down deterioration of food, it does not paralyze it or make its properties improve. The cold of this compartment makes this loss of organoleptic quality and healthiness slower, and it does not eliminate any possible microorganisms or pathogens that the food may already contain.
With this in mind, logic tells us that we can freeze something that is about to expire, although it would be a good idea to do so at least a couple of days before of the date marked on the package. Doing so with a product that expires on the same day indicated by the manufacturer is not the most advisable, especially when the date is specifically an expiration date, and not a “best before” date.
After the expiration date, it cannot be ensured that the food is safe, since the manufacturer cannot guarantee that it has no longer deteriorated or developed pathogens that are dangerous to health. If it is for preferential consumption, we risk that there will be quality lossfor example in flavor or texture, even if they are edible.
As indicated by the food safety expert Mario Sanchez, it is advisable to leave a few days of margin between freezing and expiration if we are talking about packaged foods or products, and you should be more cautious with meals prepared at home or fresh foods that do not have an indicated date. Nobody wants to throw away food, but if we are not sure that we are going to consume the leftovers of what we cooked soon, it is best to freeze them as soon as possible, indicating the content and date.
With the times that frozen foods always last, it is also advisable to defrost them correctly and cook or consume them as soon as possible, and never leave them in the refrigerator again once thawed. Although there are cases in which thawed food can be refrozen, when we push expiration dates, it is not the most advisable.
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