Factor meals are a lifesaver for busy people (and even for lazy people). No wonder people look for ways to store them for as long as possible, so life remains smooth and stable. But the real question is, can you freeze factor meals?
Fortunately, yes! You can freeze factor meals and store them until next time only if you adhere to the correct procedure. (Thank god!)
However, there are several things to remember and be aware of when doing so, as a small mistake could lead to big troubles (like food spoilage).
Save your questions.
We will clarify the whole matter as we slowly dive in further.
Can You Freeze Factor Meals?
As mentioned earlier, yes, you totally can freeze your factor meals.
Factor meals are GMO-free and no different from home-cooked meals in their nutritional value and life span.
So there’s nothing much to do about them except refrigerate/freeze them when it comes to storage.
How Long Can You Freeze Factor Meals?
You can safely freeze factor meals for up to 3 months in the freezer. (Again, only if you do it the right way)
If you do not stick to the correct procedure, any possible lousy outcome could result, ranging from a change of texture to spoiled food.
Hence it would be best if you correctly stored them. (We got your back, buddy, we will teach you how in the upcoming context)
Additionally, factor meals come in airtight, insulated packaging. You can refrigerate each meal pack for up to seven days.
So you have two active options for storing your factor meals.
Either refrigerate them or freeze them.
If you are looking for short-term storage, refrigerate them without thinking much.
But if you want to store it long-term, opt to freeze the meal packs.
How to Freeze Factor Meals?
To freeze your factor meals, follow the below explained steps.
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Partition
As the first step, portion out the meal.
Portioning the meal according to the type help it last longer and avoid any texture/flavor alterations.
If the package is unopened, all you got to do is just throw it into the freezer.
If it is already opened or if you need to freeze leftover factor meals, partition them first for the better.
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Cover Up
As the next step, cover up the food.
How do we do that?
Use a heavy-duty freezer bag or an airtight container to cover/ pack the food.
A heavy-duty freezer bag will help if you want to save space.
Airtight containers will take up more space, but they do the job equally effectively. You can go for a packaging of your preference.
Stuff the food into your choice’s package and ensure it is airtight.
It helps avoid freezer burns and taste alterations during the freezing process.
If the containers/ bags are not airtight, they will react with other air particles inside the freezer and adopt the flavor of adjacent foods (mostly which are going to be raw meat items).
It will also change the food’s texture enormously.
Pack up tight and safely to avoid these unpleasant outcomes.
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Label and Throw In
As the final step, label the bags/ containers with the date and time of the day you put them in the freezer.
We do this to keep track of the time.
Remember, factor meals are only good to be frozen for three months.
Once you are done labeling the date and time, put them in the freezer and let them sit until you decide to pull them out.
How to Defrost Frozen Factor Meals?
This is your next question, isn’t it?
Alright, you can defrost your frozen factor meals by transferring them to the refrigerator.
It will take at least 24 hours to defrost thoroughly.
Once done, you can heat it in a pan/microwave or a conventional oven and enjoy it.
You can skip thawing in the refrigerator if it is too urgent.
But thawing it in the refrigerator ensures most of its original flavor and texture.
If you have no time, take the meal pack and let it sit in the water with the container/ bag on.
After about 10 to 15 minutes, take the food out and heat it to eat it.
Can you Freeze Reheated Factor Meals?
It is not advised to do so.
To avoid this need from rising, please make sure you freeze the factor meals in small portions.
You can use only as much as you need in this way and avoid having leftovers.
Once you defrost and thaw frozen food, it is already exposed to bacteria at room temperature. The chances of spoilage remain high when you attempt to freeze it again.
How to Thaw Frozen Factor Meals?
It is just like how you would thaw other meals.
You can opt for a way depending on your preference and the facilities available.
You can use a pot or pan to heat the food. Keep the flames low to not get the food burnt.
If that sounds troublesome, microwave your food for about 3 to 4 minutes.
If that doesn’t work for you, opt for your conventional oven. Heat the food for about 15 minutes.
Depending on your preferred heat level, you can decrease and increase the thawing time.
How to Identify Spoiled Factor Meals?
Always analyze your food after you defrost them for any signs of spoilage.
We do not want to end up with diarrhea and other issues we have no desire to carry.
How do you check if the food is good or gone bad?
Well, check the following,
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Appearance
If the color of the food is abnormal, there must be something off with the food. Check for other signs of spoilage to confirm the state of the food.
Or if there is mold on the food, discard it right away.
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Smell
If the food spoils, you will sense a foul smell. You know what to do.
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Taste
There will be a noticeable difference in the food’s taste, texture, and flavor. (Not in a good way)
Takeaway
You can safely freeze factor meals for up to 3 months if you do it correctly.
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