If you’ve ever opened up your ice cream carton to find large ice crystals taking up residence across the top of the contents, you’ve been visited by the freezer burn fairy. Freezer burn is normal and can happen to many foods stored in the freezer. In the case of ice cream, one possible cause can be where you’re storing it in the freezer.
The good news is that you can still eat it.
The better news is that there are ways to prevent your ice cream from getting freezer-burned.
Watch this video to see how to store ice cream to prevent freezer burn.
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Freezer-burned ice cream
Freezer burn is “caused by air coming into contact with the surface of the food,” according to the US Department of Agriculture. In the case of ice cream, refreezing partially melted ice cream fuels freezer burn and causes crystals to appear. The way you store your ice cream can help prevent freezer burn from happening. The best temperature to store ice cream is below zero, so check the settings on your freezer and consider adjusting the temperature if necessary.
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If your ice cream has freezer burn, scoop out and discard those areas.
To avoid freezer-burned ice cream:
- Don’t store ice cream in the top freezer drawer or in an area where the temperature often fluctuates. Instead, store it in the back of the freezer to reduce the amount of exposure to the warm air that enters the freezer when the door is opened.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper over the top of the ice cream before putting the lid back on.
- Store the container in an airtight bag.
These solutions can be implemented independently or in conjunction with one another.
Prolonged storage can ruin any frozen food, so the best way to ensure your ice cream doesn’t go bad is to enjoy it often.