What to Do With Freezer Burned Food: Your Questions Answered

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: November 16, 2022 References

When you reach into your freezer to grab frozen food, the last thing you want to see is freezer burn. But wait! Do you actually need to throw it away, or is it okay to eat? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about freezer burn, including why it happens, if it’s safe, and how to get rid of that dreaded freezer burn taste.

Things You Should Know

Freezer burn happens when frozen food is exposed to air. Freezer burned food is safe to eat, but it may not taste very good.
Cut off freezer burned portions of food before eating. Cook meat and veggies into a soup or stew, and add vegetables or berries to a smoothie.
Use freezer burned bread to make bread crumbs or French toast. Scoop off the freezer burned portions of ice cream to enjoy.
Prevent freezer burn by wrapping up your frozen food tightly. Keep your freezer cold, and try to eat your frozen food within 3 years.

Section 1 of 7:

Is freezer burned food safe to eat?

Yes, freezer burned food is safe to eat. Freezer burn only affects how a food tastes, but it doesn’t mean it’s gone bad. Freezer burn may also change the texture of the food, which can result in some less-than-stellar meal times.^{[1]
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- Freezer burn may also lower the nutritional value of the food you’re eating.

Section 2 of 7:

How to Fix Freezer Burned Meat

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Cut off any freezer burned sections. You can usually tell meat has been freezer burned by looking for gray, discolored portions. Use a knife to cut off those sections and throw them away.^{[2]
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- If the entire cut of meat has been freezer burned, don’t worry about cutting anything off. You can try to mask the taste with the steps below, or you can throw the entire piece out, since it may not taste great.
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Cook the meat into a soup or stew. Cooking a soup or making a stew is the perfect way to mask that freezer burned taste. Throw in some chicken or beef broth, your veggies of choice, and lots of herbs and spices. The abundance of flavors will counteract that less-than-ideal freezer burned taste.^{[3]
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- Try a beef stew or a chicken and sweet potato stew for a chilly fall evening.
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Mask the freezer burned taste with a marinade or sauce. If you’re working with beef or chicken, try marinating it in a flavorful marinade before cooking it. If you’re making fish, whip up a fresh garlic sauce to mask any unsavory flavors.^{[4]
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- Fish absorbs flavor from sauces very easily, which is why this hack works so well.

Section 3 of 7:

How to Fix Freezer Burned Fruits and Vegetables

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Cut away any portions that are freezer burned. For larger vegetables, like broccoli, carrots, or squash, you may be able to see the freezer burned areas. If so, cut those portions off with a sharp knife.^{[5]
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- With smaller vegetables and fruits, it may be harder to tell. Try throwing away any of the vegetables that look the most freezer burned.
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Rinse and dehydrate fruits. If you notice that your fruit has small ice crystals on it, run it under cool water to rinse off the freezer burn. You can also cut your fruit up into small pieces and use a food dehydrator to dehydrate your fruit and make it taste great.^{[6]
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- Or, dry fruit on a baking tray in the oven.
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Blend the fruits and veggies into a smoothie. Throw your fruits into the smoothie whole, or puree vegetables and add them in. Load up your smoothie with plenty of other flavors and spices to mask the taste of the freezer burn.^{[7]
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- Throw your freezer burned berries into a berry smoothie. Or, try something a little healthier with a green smoothie.
- You can also stir fry vegetables or throw them into a soup or stew.

Section 4 of 7:

How to Fix Freezer Burned Bread

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Use your bread in French toast. Soaking the bread in milk and eggs will rehydrate it and mask that freezer burn taste and texture. Make a batch of French toast for a delicious way to use up that freezer burned bread.^{[8]
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Make bread crumbs. Let your bread thaw first, or use it frozen. Grind your bread in a food processor to make delicious bread crumbs that you can add to pasta or use to coat chicken breast.^{[9]
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Section 5 of 7:

How to Fix Freezer Burned Ice Cream

Scoop out any freezer burned parts of the ice cream. Ice cream typically only develops freezer burn on the very top. To avoid eating any freezer burned portions, use a knife or a spoon to scrape off the top layer and throw it away.

Section 6 of 7:

What is freezer burn?

Freezer burn is a chemical reaction that happens when ice becomes gas. Through a process called sublimation, the moisture on the food becomes gas without melting and evaporating first, which leaves behind tiny ice crystals on your food.^{[10]
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Research source} Usually, freezer burn happens when food is exposed to air inside of the freezer.

Section 7 of 7:

How to Prevent Freezer Burn

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Wrap food up tightly before putting it in the freezer. Most of the time, food gets freezer burned when it’s packaged incorrectly. Be sure to double wrap any food that you put into the freezer, and squeeze out as much air as you can beforehand to prevent freezer burn. Use aluminum foil, sealable bags, or plastic wrap for best results.^{[11]
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- You can also vacuum seal your food.
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Set your freezer to the lowest temperature. When a freezer gets too warm, freezer burn is more likely to occur. Be sure your freezer remains steady at 0 °F (−18 °C) for best results.^{[12]
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Keep your freezer shut as much as possible. Opening your freezer too often can cause temperature fluctuations, leading to freezer burn. Try not to open your freezer too often, and shut the door quickly whenever you do open it.^{[13]
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Only thaw your food once. Refreezing your food increases the likelihood of freezer burn (plus, it can introduce dangerous bacteria to your food). Try not to thaw your food more than once for best results.^{[14]
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Use frozen food quickly. The longer your food sits inside the freezer, the more likely it is to develop freezer burn. While most food can last inside of the freezer indefinitely, try to eat your food within 3 years of freezing it for the best taste and texture.^{[15]
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