This Month: Celebrate Frozen Food

The freezer...it's a wonderful invention, don't you think? You can keep food frozen for months and still be able to eat it as if you just bought it. I freeze everything from garlic cloves to fruit, to herbs and even flour. Every morning, I use a few frozen strawberries for my smoothie. So, it's safe to say that the freezer and frozen food has made our lives easier, right? Let's celebrate! All this month you can celebrate. The month of March is National Frozen Food Month.

If you have ever wanted to know anything about frozen food, the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service has all the information you need.

Have you ever wondered what food you can freeze? According the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, here's what you can freeze:

"You can freeze almost any food. Some exceptions are canned food or eggs in shells. However, once the food (such as a ham) is out of the can, you may freeze it.

Being able to freeze food and being pleased with the quality after defrosting are two different things. Some foods simply don't freeze well. Examples are mayonnaise, cream sauce and lettuce. Raw meat and poultry maintain their quality longer than their cooked counterparts because moisture is lost during cooking."

Have you ever wondered about freezer burn? Again, here's what the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has to say:

"Freezer burn does not make food unsafe, merely dry in spots. It appears as grayish-brown leathery spots and is caused by air coming in contact with the surface of the food. Cut freezer-burned portions away either before or after cooking the food. Heavily freezer-burned foods may have to be discarded for quality reasons."

Do you want to know more about frozen food? Here is almost everything you need to know about frozen food from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

If you're looking for a delicious recipe using only a frozen banana and some peanut butter, check out how I make Vegan "Ice Cream."