Low temperatures ruin the texture, flavor, and appearance of these foods.
by Jill Neimark, for Rodale's Organic Life
1. Water-Rich Vegetables
These include crunchy celery, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, and watercress. The fact that they are water-rich means they freeze easily, but freezing ruptures the cell walls that give them their structure, so when they are defrosted they go limp and mushy. (They also develop an unpleasant oxidized aroma, flavor, and color.) However, pickled and fermented veggies will freeze just fine, since their cell walls have already been broken down. Fresh tomatoes can be frozen if you plan to cook them after defrosting, but if you want to eat them raw, don’t freeze—they’ll have a mushy, runny texture.
2. Whole Eggs
Eggs in the shell bust open when frozen, admitting dangerous bacteria. (If you really want to freeze eggs, take them out of their shells, first.
3. Coffee
You can store unopened, freshly roasted bags of coffee in the freezer for up to a month, but after you've opened the bag, don't freeze it again. Thawing and refreezing coffee beans leads to moisture condensation on the beans, causing them absorb unpleasant freezer smells.
4. Soft Dairy Products
Sour cream, cottage cheese, and whipping cream separate and become watery after freezing.
5. Potatoes
Potatoes will discolor and lose texture if you freeze them raw; cooked potatoes turn waterlogged and mealy. Bottom line: Don't freeze your spuds.
6. Emulsions
Freezing causes mayonnaise and salad dressings to separate and turn watery. (This also goes for recipes containing mayonnaise, such as dips or mayo-based salads.)
7. Block Cheeses
Freezing tends to make cheese very crumbly so that it doesn't slice or shred well after. (To avoid this, you can shred your cheese before freezing it.)
8. Meringues + Cooked Frosting
Freezing turns airy meringues tough and rubbery; and makes cooked frostings soften and weep. Finish those desserts now instead of putting them on ice for later.
This article was originally published on Rodale's Organic Life.
More from Rodale's Organic Life:
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.