3 Reasons why you shouldn’t overfill your freezer

iii Reasons why you shouldn't overfill your freezer

(Paradigm credit: Shutterstock)

When we're faced with a plate of leftovers or an untouched steak that's non quite out of date, we ever resort to the freezer. In the end, it saves money and waste right?

Unfortunately, that'southward not always the case. Many of us are guilty of overloading the freezer and forgetting what's in there. Afterwards all, it's and so easily washed when nutrient lasts forever once frozen (again, sadly this just isn't true).

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While a full freezer is better than an empty freezer in terms of free energy use, if you lot forget what you've stored, that food will all the same become to waste once it loses its quality — and that's truthful even if yous're using the freezer compartment in one of the best refrigerators.

Fortunately, we accept some tips to get around this common problem. So hither are three reasons why you lot shouldn't overfill your freezer.

Why shouldn't you overfill the freezer?

1. You will forget what you've frozen

It sounds like mutual sense, simply most freezers volition incorporate something nosotros've forgotten about or even don't recognise! Every bit we stack and stuff more food into the drawers or shelves, nosotros can't meet what's underneath or backside. This results in storing the older nutrient unnecessarily and eventual waste material when nosotros finally get rid of information technology — you may too have thrown information technology out in the start identify! On superlative of this, if your freezer is overloaded, it tin't circulate the air properly to maintain its temperature, and so the nutrient may not be effectively frozen.

2. The nutrient volition lose its quality over fourth dimension

While food which is fully frozen will technically be condom to eat, no matter how long it is stored, it will lose its quality over time. This can bear on its flavor, texture, aroma and even its appearance. You lot may observe freezer burn on some foods, which appears as a white or a grey-brown discolouration. This is where the nutrient hasn't been sealed properly and the air has stale out the surface. Again, this won't hurt you, but it will affect the taste and texture.

Freezer Burn — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

3. It could damage your freezer

While a full freezer runs more efficiently than an empty one, overfilling it can potentially block the air vents. This in turn will restrict the air circulation and put added pressure on the motor and condenser. Not only could this spoil all of the nutrient, merely it could fire out the freezer altogether, resulting in plush repairs.

Bearing in listen all of the above, it'southward best to know exactly what's in your freezer and when y'all want to utilise it. Hither are some tips you tin follow to aid continue things in check.

Freezer tips

Label your food with the date earlier you lot freeze it. That mode, y'all can eat the older nutrient showtime. If you're freezing something without packaging, or something homemade, information technology's good practice to label what information technology is too, so you lot don't forget.
When filling your freezer, identify new items at the back, and bring those at the back to the front to aid rotate.
Freeze things flat where possible. This makes it easier to stack and store.
If you're struggling for infinite, remove the packaging before freezing information technology. This can salvage lots of space, peculiarly with items such as freezer pops. Just be sure to brand a note of the dates.
You lot tin also defrost the freezer once in a while to requite yourself more than space by getting rid of any built-up ice.

More than: Check out our guide to how to clean an oven

Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products too, so is the best bespeak of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over half dozen years, and so she knows what to expect for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to examination has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time.