Containers for Freezing

by DoItYourself Staff

Foods for your freezer must have proper packaging materials to protect their flavor, color, moisture content and nutritive value from the dry climate of the freezer. The selection of containers depends on the type of food to be frozen, personal preference and types that are readily available. Do not freeze fruits and vegetables in containers with a capacity over one-half gallon. Foods in larger containers freeze too slowly to result in a satisfactory product. In general, packaging materials must have certain characteristics:

Moisture vapor resistant
Durable and leakproof
Not become brittle and crack at low temperatures
Resistant to oil, grease or water
Protect foods from absorption of off flavors or odors
Easy to seal
Easy to mark
There are two types of packaging materials for home use: rigid containers and flexible bags or wrappings.

Rigid Containers
Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to get out. Rigid containers are often reuseable and make the stacking of foods in the freezer easier. Cardboard cartons for cottage cheese, ice cream and milk are not sufficiently moisture vapor resistant to be suitable for long term freezer storage, unless they are lined with a freezer bag or wrap.

Regular glass jars break easily at freezer temperatures. If using glass jars, choose wide mouth dual purpose jars made for freezing and canning. These jars have been tempered to withstand extremes in temperatures. The wide mouth allows easy removal of partially thawed foods. If standard canning jars (those with narrow mouths) are used for freezing, leave extra headspace (page 210) to allow for expansion of foods during freezing. Expansion of the liquid could cause the jars to break at the neck. Some foods will need to be thawed completely before removal from the jar.

Covers for rigid containers should fit tightly. If they do not, reinforce the seal with freezer tape. Freezer tape is especially designed to stick at freezing temperatures.

Flexible Bags or Wrappings
Bags and sheets of moisture vapor resistant materials and heavy duty aluminum foil are suitable for dry packed vegetables and fruits, meats, fish or poultry. Bags can also be used for liquid packs. Protective card board cartons may be used to protect bags and sheets against tearing and to make stacking easier.

Laminated papers made of various combinations of paper, metal foil, glassine, cellophane and rubber latex are suitable for dry packed vegetables and fruits, meats, fish and poultry. Laminated papers are also used as protective overwraps.