Celery
Another food to keep away from the freezer is celery. Celery is 95% water, and when that water freezes, it expands and breaks down the celery’s cellular structure. Freezing celery causes freezer-burned celery to be limp, stringy, and dry. If you need to freeze celery, blanch it first. Blanching is boiling vegetables briefly and then plunging them into ice water. Blanching helps to stop the cooking process and preserve celery’s bright green color. Otherwise, storing celery in the fridge is the way to go. When stored in the crisper drawer of your fridge, celery can last up to two weeks.
Ketchup
Ketchup is one of those condiments that everyone has in their fridge. And while it’s great on burgers and fries, you should never put ketchup in the freezer. The high acidity level in ketchup can cause it to spoil quickly, even in the coldest temperatures. If you do freeze ketchup, you’ll likely find that the texture is no longer as smooth as it once was. So, next time you’re stocking up your fridge, keep the ketchup in the door where it will stay cool but not cold enough to turn into a frozen solid.
Yogurt
You might think that freezing yogurt would be a great way to make it last longer, but it has the opposite effect. Freezing yogurt changes the texture to grainy, watery, and crumbly. It’s still safe to eat, but it definitely won’t taste as good. If you need to store yogurt for a more extended period, it’s best to keep it in the fridge, where it will last for about two weeks. After that, the yogurt will spoil, and it won’t be safe to eat.
Fresh Herbs
One of the worst things you can do to fresh herbs is freeze them. Freezing changes the cell structure of herbs, making them limp and lifeless. It also changes their flavor, making them taste bland and weak. If you need to store fresh herbs for later use, it’s best to keep them in the fridge, where they will last for about a week. You can also dry herbs by hanging them upside down in a cool, dark place. Dried herbs will last for several months, still retaining their flavor.
Conclusion
While plenty of foods you can freeze with no problem, some don’t hold up well in the freezer. The foods on this list are better off stored in the fridge or pantry, where they will last longer and taste better. So keep this in mind next time you’re buying food in bulk or trying to make your groceries last. If you have any questions about what foods can be frozen, ask your local grocer or check online.
