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Eggs
Meat
Store without washing in the original carton
on interior shelf.
Milk
Wipe milk cartons. For best storage, place
milk on interior shelf.
Most meat can be stored in original wrap-
ping as long as it is air and moisture proof.
Rewrap if necessary. See the following chart
for storage times.
Butter or margarine
Keep opened butter in covered dish or
closed compartment. When storing an extra
supply, wrap in freezer packaging and
freeze.
TYPE
Chicken
Ground beef
1 Steaks and roasts
Cheese
Cured meats
Bacon
Store in the original wrapping until you are
ready to use it. Once opened, rewrap tightly
in plastic wrap or aluminum
foil.
Leftovers
1 Cold cuts
Cover leftovers with plastic wrap or alumi-
num foil. Plastic containers with tight lids can
also be used.
Variety meats
1 to2
tlf meat is to be stored longer than the times
given, follow the directions for freezing.
NOTE: Fresh fish and shellfish should be
used the same day as purchased.
Storing frozen food
The freezer section is designed for storage
of commercially frozen food and for freezing
food at home.
NOTE:
For further information about prepar-
ing food for freezing or storage times,
contact your local Cooperative Extension
Service or check a freezer guide or cook-
book.
Packaging
The secret of successful freezing is in the
packaging. The way you close and seal the
package must not allow air or moisture in or
out. Packaging done in any other way could
cause food odor and taste transfer through-
out the refrigerator and drying of frozen food.
Packaging recommended for use:
l Rigid plastic containers with tight-fitting lids
l Straight-sided canning/freezing jars
l Heavy-duty aluminum foil
l Plastic-coated paper
l Non-permeable plastic wraps (made from a
Saran film)
Follow package or container instructions for
proper freezing methods.
APPROXIMATE TIME
(DAYS)+
1 to2
1 to2
3 to 5
I
7to10
5 to 7
3 to 5
I
Do not use:
l Bread wrappers
l Non-polyethylene plastic containers
l Containers without tight lids
l Waxed paper
l Waxed-coated freezer wrap
l Thin, semi-permeable wrap
The use of these wrappings could cause food
odor, taste transfer and drying of frozen food.
Freezing
Do not expect your freezer to quick-freeze any
large quantity of food. Put no more unfrozen
food into the freezer than will freeze within
24 hours. (No more than 32 to 48 grams of
food per liter of freezer space [2 to 3 Ibs. of
food per cubic foot of freezer space].) Leave
enough space for air to circulate around
packages. Be careful to leave enough room at
the front so the door can close tightly.
Storage times will vary according to the
quality of the food, the type of packing or wrap
used (air and moisture proof) and the storage
temperature (which should be -17.8% [O”F]).
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