Have you ever pulled a roast from the freezer and noticed discoloration and textural changes on the surface of the meat? This is freezer burn.
Freezer burn occurs when frozen, crystallized water molecules move from the food to the coldest part of your freezer which is often the sides of your freezer. The loss of the water leads to dehydration of the roast or freezer burn.
Freezer burn is much more likely when:
- Frozen foods are not tightly wrapped in air-tight packages.
- Food products are stored to long
- Or, when freezer temperatures fluctuate above 0 degrees F.
Freezer burn does not affect safety of the food, but you may notice that it adversely changes the texture and the flavor of the food. You may find it’s satisfactory to cut away freezer burned portions before cooking.