What is flash freezing all about?

Have you ever tried freezing leftovers only to discover a solid block that turns into an unappetizing mess after thawing? Let us introduce you to flash freezing. In the food industry, this process involves using extremely low temperatures to rapidly freeze food. For home use, it’s a method to freeze individual items, like berries, or servings of food before packaging them for longer storage in the freezer. Flash freezing at home requires some planning, effort, and time, but it’s definitely worth it.

Many of us are used to tossing leftover meat, bread, cakes, or cookies into a freezer container and hoping for the best. Sometimes it works, but other times you find yourself trying to separate frozen chicken breasts with a butter knife. Flash freezing allows you to thaw and reheat single portions rather than entire containers of food.

If you have a bunch of leftover berries close to their expiration date, placing them directly into a freezer bag will cause them to clump into a solid mass. This can be frustrating later when you only want a handful for a smoothie. With flash freezing, you spread the berries out on a baking sheet or tray, freeze them briefly, and then transfer them into a freezer bag or container. This isn’t a long-term freezing solution, as the berries remain uncovered, and the trays will take up valuable freezer space. Once the berries have hardened, they’re ready for easy access when you're in the mood for a smoothie.

Flash freezing isn’t suitable for everything. For instance, placing individual servings of soup on a baking tray probably isn’t the best idea. Most produce, unlike berries, should be at least partially cooked or stored in liquid before freezing. However, flash freezing is great for any raw or cooked food that can be cut or broken into smaller pieces, preventing them from freezing into a huge block: meatballs, cookies, pie slices, burgers, leftover lasagna — you name it.