How to process frozen food should not be careless. Frozen food must be thawed properly in order to be safe for consumption. Although it looks trivial, this is very important to do to prevent the growth of disease-causing bacteria in the food to be consumed.
Before cooking, frozen food stored in freezer or refrigerator, of course, must be thawed and processed first. This also applies to leftover food that is about to be frozen.
However, there are still many people who do not know the correct way to process frozen food. If frozen food is processed carelessly, various health problems can occur, including food poisoning.
How to Defrost and Process Frozen Food
There are various ways to thaw frozen food so that it is ready to be processed into delicious dishes, including:
1. Soak in cold water
Wrap frozen food with clean plastic tightly so that no bacteria can enter. Next, soak them in a bowl or pan of cold or plain water until they are completely submerged.
Change the water every 30 minutes until the frozen food is thawed or softened and ready to serve. Frozen foods softened by this method should be cooked immediately.
2. Dkeep it in the fridge all day
This is the easiest and most hygienic way to soften frozen food, but it can take up to 24 hours or more.
After being removed from freezer, place the frozen food in a clean container and place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Containers are used to hold liquids that come out of food so they don't hit other foods.
3. Softened with microwave
How to thaw frozen food with microwave very easy. You just need to place the frozen food in a heat-resistant plastic container, then put it inside microwave. Heat for a few minutes.
Soften frozen food with microwave it's faster, but the results are less even, especially if the food is large and thick. This has the potential to trigger the growth of bacteria in food. Therefore, frozen food thawed in this way should be cooked immediately
Storage Time Limit
Freezing food inside freezer -18o Celsius is a natural and safe way to preserve food. However, in order to maintain the quality of frozen food, there is a time limit for frozen food storage that you need to pay attention to, namely:
- Raw ground red meat: 2-3 months
- Raw red meat: 8–12 months
- Cooked red meat: 2-3 months
- Raw poultry meat: about 12 months
- Cooked poultry: 4–6 months
- Fish: 2–5 months
- Clams and prawns: 2–4 months
- Sausage: 1-2 months
Some Important Tips When Buying and Storing Frozen Food
Keep the following in mind when purchasing and storing frozen food:
- Visit the frozen food counter lastly when shopping at the supermarket to keep frozen foods cold and last longer.
- Put frozen food in closed containers and store inside freezer temperature of -18 degrees Celsius.
- Avoid refreezing leftover food that has been thawed to prevent food poisoning.
- Avoid opening the door freezer when the power goes out and leave the door closed so frozen food can last 1-2 days.
- clean up freezer every 3-4 months using a special cleaning fluid and water. Wipe and dry any liquid or food that is spilled on freezer or refrigerator as soon as possible to avoid bacterial contamination of food.
Defrosting and processing frozen food should not be careless. If you experience certain symptoms, such as diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or fever, after consuming processed frozen food, consult a doctor immediately for proper treatment.
