Youll ruin these foods and drinks if you put them on ice, ice, baby.
But as much as we consider the freezer our friend, its not ideal for everything.
This has less to do with food safety and more to do with quality.
Credit:Jake Sternquist
Discover the worst foods to freeze, plus a category of drinks that should never be frozen.
Foods that are frozen for long periods of time may start to lose flavor or dry out.
(FoodSafety.gov has a handy guide forcold food storagetimelines.)
Once thawed, they will be limp, slimy, waterlogged, and oxidized, Brekke says.
Store those vegetables in your refrigeratorscrisper drawerinstead, and aim to use them within 7 to 10 days.
Raw potatoes also have a high moisture content.
Once those spuds are thawed, they will likely be mushy and grainy.
Potato recipes likemashed potatoes,potato casseroles, andpotato soupfreeze and reheat well.
Keep store-bought or homemade mayo and dressings in the refrigerator.
Aim to use homemade dressing within 4 days and from-scratch mayo within 2 weeks.
Use purchased varieties of either by the date listed on the jar or bottle.
Store these items in the refrigerator, and use them within the timeframes specified by theUSDA.
To preserve those jiggly qualities and the desired consistency, keep thosesweetand savory gelatin recipes in the fridge instead.
This opens up the very real possibility for a safety issue (and a mess).
These drinks will expand as they freeze, Brekke says.
The pressure will increase and the packaging may burst or shatter.
Allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
These items have been expertly crafted to cook at home with great results, Brekke says.
Reheat in an air fryer or on a rack in the oven for best results.
