day ten: preserves

From pj:

How long can you keep stuff in the freezer for before it goes bad? Do different things have different half lifes? I threw away some frozen chicken breasts and some hot dogs and some cured ham and some rolls and some white thing I couldn’t even begin to figure out what it was but in each instance I realized I have absolutely no idea what the deal is with the whole freezer/food combo and when things are bad even though they are solid blocks of ice.

Here’s a simple phrase (that also happens to rhyme) that I learned once in regards to food safety, and it has served me well: When in doubt, throw it out!

You can freeze things for a really long time, but make sure to seal them well. Air is the enemy when it comes to preserving food.

On the subject of food turning bad, what’s the deal with the canned stuff too?

I tend to avoid canned food because it often contains nearly lethal amounts of sodium and I am not down with salt. I mean, I like salt, but really sparingly. Canned goods are technically non-perishable, but if you ever see a can that is misshapen or lumpy-looking, then throw it away. Unless you think botulism might be a good time.