有一次，当在朋友的度假屋中清理晚餐时，我们在冰箱里发现了一些鸡肉，并计划了烧烤鸡肉晚餐。家禽融化时，酸肉的气味告诉我们，那天晚上我们只吃沙拉和土豆。我的朋友似乎很惊讶地得知肉和鱼可能会在冰箱中损坏。但是可悲的是，冰箱不是一个魔术室，时间仍然永远存在。

Although bacteria can’t grow when frozen, enzymes are still at work, destroying the quality of frozen meat and fish by causing fats to oxidize and turn rancid. Foods with a high fat content spoil more quickly. The type of fat also makes a difference: saturated fats are more stable than unsaturated, so beef (which is high in saturated fat) will last up to four times longer than fish (which is high in unsaturated fats).

How cold is frozen?

For maximum freezer shelf life, you need a freezer that holds food at a constant temperature of 0°F or below. If you’re unsure about the temperature of your freezer, test it with a freezer thermometer.

Some home freezers can maintain this temperature, but many don’t. Among the freezers that don’t are those inside the refrigerator, often called “ice-cube compartments.” These generally hold a temperature between 10° and 25°. Also be aware that opening the refrigerator frequently causes fluctuations in this type of freezer’s temperature and accelerates food spoilage. In general, ice-cube compartments are not intended to store perishable meats and fish for any length of time. Meat stored in this type of freezer should be used within two months and fish within three weeks.

If you’re serious about stocking up, consider investing in a free-standing freezer with its own temperature setting and a tight door seal. These freezers hold constant temperatures of 0° or below, and store foods safely for much longer periods. Beef stored at 0° can last up to eight months.

Approximate shelf life of meats and fish held at 0°F or below

Wrap foods tightly to preserve flavor

如果您要冻结肉，请从最新鲜的产品开始，修剪多余的脂肪，然后将肉紧紧包裹在优质的冰箱纸中。重型塑料袋将起作用，但请注意不要用锋利的骨头刺穿塑料。防湿包裹将保护食物免受冰箱干燥空气的影响，并防止称为“冰箱燃烧”的疾病。市场上新鲜肉类上的脆弱塑料膜不足以扩展冰箱存储。

Wrap meats and fish in meal-size portions and always label and date each package. If you have a lot of food in your freezer, keep an inventory to help you figure out what’s inside without having to fish around with the door wide open.

迅速将食物的温度降低

冻结食物的速度越快，纹理融化时就会越好。将新的添加剂放在冰箱上，靠在墙壁上或冰箱的地板上，因为这些区域是最冷的区域。保持冰柜约为三分之二的填充也将提高效率，但不要一次添加太多的未脱糖食品（每立方英尺的冷冻空间不超过两磅）。切勿使用冰箱冷却热食：这只是提高了冰箱含量的其余温度，并产生了很多霜冻。

Seasonings deteriorate when frozen, so any seasoned, processed, or cured meats or fish should be frozen only for a short time (one to two months). Pack leftover cooked meats and fish with some gravy or sauce to prevent drying, and keep them frozen for no more than two months.

Finally, refreezing deteriorates the texture of meat and fish. Be sure to get commercially frozen meat and fish home and into your freezer right away to avoid thawing.