Penelope Norte

So what is flash freezing? In the food industry—or on fast-paced cooking TV shows—this term means freezing foods at extremely low temperatures with circulating air. (It's also sometimes called "blast freezing.") This quick-chill method keeps ice crystals small, which prevents moisture loss in the food when it thaws.

For the home cook, however, the definition is different: Flash freezing refers to the practice of freezing individual pieces of food, usually spread out on a baking sheet to keep them from fusing together, then packing them in airtight containers for longer storage. This method allows you to thaw and use just the amount of food needed, rather than pulling out larger amounts from your freezer.

To get started, you'll need a baking sheet or tray that fits in your freezer and freezer-safe containers or resealable bags. Depending on what you're freezing, you may need plastic freezer wrap or heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Test Kitchen Tip: For easier cleanup, line the baking sheet or tray with parchment paper, waxed paper, or plastic wrap before adding the food.

Test Kitchen Tip: Do not use foil to wrap foods that contain acidic ingredients, such as tomatoes or lemon juice, since acid reacts with aluminum foil. Instead, use plastic freezer wrap.

Whether raw or cooked, just about any food that comes in individual pieces (or can be broken/cut into individual pieces) can be flash frozen. The best candidates, however, are those foods that freeze well in general and are particularly useful in smaller portions. Here are some examples:

Because they lose flavor, texture, and/or overall quality when frozen, these foods won't do well with flash freezing:

According to the USDA, food stored at temperatures of 0°F or below will always be safe to eat. That's because freezing prevents the growth of the microorganisms that cause foodborne illness. However, after time, frozen foods might lose flavor, texture, or overall quality. We recommend sticking within the times suggested here:

Kuhlmeier , high school students in a journalism class at Hazelwood East High School in St Louis County, Missouri sued the school district after

1. Open FBR IRIS portal, click on registration for an unregistered person and give all relevant information
2. Open the IRIS portal again and click on e-enrolment from the different options
3. Enter all the details such as you CNIC, mobile number etc to complete registration process