Not only is it safer, but it can also help prevent freezer burn.
Should I be concerned that my kitchen freezer isn’t cold enough?
Here’s what I found out.
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Food and Drug Administration,the best temperature for your freezer is 0F (-18C) or below.
If your freezer has a built-in thermometer, its easy to set and track the temperature.
If it does not, your freezer is not holding its temperature.
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It’s time to have it checked out by an appliance expert.
Some freezers only have numbers, not a temperature, like zero to five.
In this case, you should use the coldest setting, which is five, says Mallikarjunan.
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It helps with inactivating microbes, including such polymers as mold, yeast, and fungi in food.
At 0F or below, you’re able to also avoid freezer burn.
When food thaws and refreezesin the scientific community this is called a freeze/thaw eventice crystals form on it.
At low temperatures, the crystals are small and have little effect on the product.
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Can the Temperature Be Too Low?
Most freezers do have a lower limit of around -10F (-23C).
Being extra cold may only mean it takes longer for your ice cream to soften up.
Fink specifically calls out the importance of keeping ice cream away from potential temperature changes.
It is recommended that ice cream be stored at as cold of temperature as possible, she says.
We never want to give it a chance to melt, form ice crystals, and decrease in quality.
It’s safe to eat these, but they may taste off.
Freezer burn happens when the food is exposed to dry air (low humidity), says Mallikarjunan.
To avoid this, you should [package the food properly to] prevent moisture loss.
If possible, squeeze out as much air as possible from the container.
