Will unsealed fish in the freezer contaminate packaged food?
My step dad put 3 unsealed fishes from the lake in the freezer. I also have sealed waffles and sealed hotdog meat in the freezer. I want to make sure the package food is safe for my children to eat.
Best Answer
In the freezer, things are relatively safe, as pathogens will not multiply given the cold temperature. So, as long as you remove the package with the waffles and toast, or remove the hotdog package and cook, you will be fine. There is a higher risk for pathogens to multiply on anything that the fish is resting on if you were to remove those items and warm them up slowly (thaw on the counter top, for example). There is also a risk of cross contamination if you have the handle the fish to move things about. However, the more significant problem with not wrapping the fish is (a) it will dehydrate/become "freezer burned" thus limiting shelf life, (b) it will be a source of off-flavors for other food stored in the refrigerator/freezer, and (c) it will pick up off-flavors from the rest of your refrigerator/freezer.
Pictures about "Will unsealed fish in the freezer contaminate packaged food?"
How long can you keep fish after opening?
Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 \xb0F/4.4 \xb0C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing. After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.How long can we keep fish in freezer?
When frozen in an at-home refrigerator, a fatty fish like tuna or salmon will last two to three months. A leaner fish like cod will last up to six months. When vacuum-sealed and properly stored in the freezer, fish can last for as long as two years.Can we keep marinated fish in freezer?
Fish is naturally quite tender and can become mushy if marinated too long. Keep marinating times for seafood between 15 minutes to one hour. Don't freeze meats in their marinade. Prolonged exposure to the acids in the marinade combined with damage from ice crystals can cause the meat to become mushy.How long can food stay in the freezer before it goes bad?
As a general rule of thumb, frozen food will keep for three months in a standard home freezer before starting to show signs of freezer burn. This is true for raw meats, cooked meats, prepared foods, breads, and anything else you might think of freezing.How Does Cross-Contamination Happen?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Алекке Блажин, Önder Örtel, Önder Örtel, Top 5 Way