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Handy Cold Storage Chart
Helpful hints:
 If you are going to thaw frozen foods, be sure to thaw only what you need. Do not place completely thawed foods back into the freezer.
Before freezing fish, dip it in lemon juice to help preserve its original taste and texture. Then wrap it snugly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil.
A convenient way to freeze raw egg whites is in an ice cube tray, one per cube. When solid, transfer the frozen egg white cubes to freezer bags.
Cheddar, Swiss, Gouda, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses freeze well, but should be frozen in portions of no more than two pounds. Wrap the cheese tightly, first in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, before freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight to prevent crumbling.
Fruits that freeze well include berries, citrus, figs, peaches and cherries.
In the frozen state, ginger is easier to peel and grate. Ginger keeps for several months.
When you add items to your freezer, limit them to about two pounds for each cubic foot of freezer space.
Use this chart to help make freezing foods a success.
| Food |
Refrigerator
34-40°F |
Freezer
32°F or Lower |
| Butter |
2-4 weeks |
6-8 months |
| Eggs |
|
|
| Hard cooked |
1 week |
Do not freeze |
| Whites (raw) |
1 week |
12 months |
| Yolks (raw) |
2 days |
6 months |
| Fish |
|
|
| Lean fish (cod, flounder) |
1 day |
6 months |
| Fat fish (salmon, bluefish) |
1 day |
3 months |
| Chicken, Turkey |
1-4 days |
6-7 months |
| Bread |
|
|
| Quick (baked) |
3-7 days |
3 months |
| Yeast (baked) |
7-14 days |
3 months |
| Yeast dough |
3-5 days |
1 month |
| Fruit |
|
|
Apricots, berries,
cherries |
2-3 days |
8-12 months |
Melons, nectarines,
peaches, plums,
pears |
3-5 days |
8-12 months |
Apples, citrus fruits,
cranberries |
1-2 weeks |
8-12 months |
| Vegetables |
|
|
| Corn |
1 day |
8-12 months |
Asparagus, green
beans |
2-3 days |
8-12 months |
Artichokes, broccoli,
collards, lima beans,
peas, spinach,
turnip greens |
3-5 days |
8-12 months |
Beets, cauliflower,
carrots, winter
squash |
2-3 weeks |
8-12 months |
Some foods should not be frozen, including:
Cooked egg whites and soft meringues
Gelatin
Cake or pie with custard filling
Mayonnaise
Cloves and imitation vanilla
Milk, light cream or sour cream
Vegetables with high water content (celery, tomatoes, leafy salad greens and fennel, unless they have been cooked and finely chopped)
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