How to Stop Your Freezer from Secretly Ruining Your Food: Six Steps

 

Because right now is the most we've ever relied on our freezers.

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In 2020, I believe we will rely on our freezers more than ever before. Sales of chest freezers and additional refrigerators have skyrocketed in recent months as a result of the pandemic's driving force behind the urge to stay at home and cook more. This also means that now is the absolute worst moment for your freezer to break. And while we have no control over things like equipment failure or power outages, there are steps we can take to safeguard the investment our freezer's contents represent. These top freezer management strategies can help you stay safe and secure while managing your frozen items.

1. Keep it organized

The ideal condition for a freezer is when it is mostly full but still has some airflow. The first step in making sure the coldest air gets to where it needs to go is to keep your freezer organized. Additionally, using storage containers like these for organizations can aid in managing loose materials and advance overall organization.

2. Keep it sealed

It is crucial that nothing in a freezer presses on the door or lid since doing so could break the seal. (Anyone who has ever tugged on a freezer door handle and met with no resistance is familiar with the sinking sensation of an open door.) A catastrophe can result from anything, even a plastic bag corner sticking out in the wrong spot. Consider putting a lock like this one that holds the door shut if you have family members who might not be as careful about making sure the freezer is closed securely. Alternatively, if you have a chest freezer, try one similar to this.

3. Set up a DIY warning system

Do you have a second freezer at home or in a different location that you don't use every day? Do you frequently experience power outages? Fridges give off an unpleasant scent that lets you know they've gone bad, but freezers are trickier. Horror stories abound about people leaving town or visiting vacation homes when there has been a power outage long enough for the contents of the freezer to rot and then refreeze without the owners' knowledge. Nobody wants to fall ill because they temporarily were unaware that their meal was dangerous.

Use this easy tip to be safe: Water should be added to a small, clear deli container (approximately 16 ounces in size) or another disposable food container (with a lid) and frozen solid. After that, set anything small and non-floating on top of the ice, such as a quarter or a large washer. Make sure the item is still on top of the ice when you open your freezer. Your freezer has failed and refrozen, rendering your food unsafe, if it is embedded in the ice, particularly if it is embedded in the bottom of the ice.

4. Keep a thermometer in the freezer where you can see it

Every time you open the freezer door, a little freezer thermometer placed at eye level will immediately inform you if the temperature is within the desired range (it should be at 0 degrees Fahrenheit) Make sure to place this wherever you can see it, not on the door itself.

5. Be prepared to triage

It can be helpful to be ready in case of emergency if you worry that your freezer will fail, either because it is older or because you have a power outage problem. In the event that your freezer breaks down, having some sizable coolers on hand can help you temporarily save the contents. The items in your freezer are still safe to eat as long as the temperature has not risen over 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours. 

To keep stuff cold, place expensive or irreplaceable items in coolers first and grab bags of ice as soon as you can. Also consider priorities: Save the meats, the top tier of your wedding cake, and the unique spice mixture you brought back from your most recent international vacation. The grocery store's half-loaf of sliced bread? When it has defrosted, create bread pudding.

6. Install an alert system

Whether you want to keep a watch on the refrigerator and freezer in your kitchen, the extra ones in the garage or basement, or even those of your parents who might need assistance, investing in a system that you can monitor remotely and that can give you a warning can be a lifesaver. There are numerous options, some of which are better suited for specific applications. I favor the following two options:

A cost-effective two-sensor solution for the refrigerator and freezer is the AcuRite 00515M Refrigerator Thermometer. It contains an outside thermometer and an alarm system that will go off if either appliance's temperature goes above or below the set range. If you live in a small home or apartment, this is a great solution because you'll need to hear the alarm go off to deal with any potential issues. In other words, ideal for your refrigerator or freezer in the kitchen, but not so great if you want to keep an eye on a second unit in a less crowded area.

The AcuRite 00515M Refrigerator Thermometer with 2 Wireless Temperature Sensors and Customizable Alarms for Fridge & Freezer is available at Walmart.com for $34.99.

La Crosse's warning system La Crosse has a tonne of wonderful temperature monitoring technologies that you can customize for your home to get the most out of your monitoring.

They have two options for refrigerator/freezer sensors: the Alert system or the View system. The Alert system uses a built-in, tiny Wi-Fi gateway to interact with an app on your phone. Your refrigerator or freezer will alert you by SMS, emails, or both when the temperature veers outside the range you've set. They also have water sensors that work with this system, which are great for basements that can flood, or laundry rooms or mechanical rooms where equipment might fail and flood.