You may have frozen some shrimp only to find that later it has freezer burn. You may be wondering if it is still safe to eat. Read on… we are here to answer all your questions in this regard.
What is Freezer Burn?
Any food, not just shrimp, that is stored in the freezer is prone to freezer burn. Freezer burn is caused by dehydration (loss of moisture content) from frozen food.
Foods with a higher water content, especially shellfish, tend to be more easily affected. Freezer burn on shrimp can be recognized by dark greyish white, tough, leathery areas.
On cooking, it will have a dry, tough texture. It may be covered in ice crystals.
All foodstuffs contain water and this forms tiny ice crystals when the food is frozen. The crystals move to the surface of the shrimp or other food then sublimate (like evaporate) to the coldest area of the deep freeze.
This loss of water molecules causes the shrimp to become dehydrated, and, therefore, shriveled and dry. The longer the shrimp is frozen, the greater the chance of it developing freezer burn and a loss of quality.
Is the Shrimp Still Safe to Eat?
Yes, freezer-burned foods are still safe to eat. However, they will have an unpleasant taste and texture. Provided that your freezer is set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or -18 degrees Celsius, harmful bacteria cannot grow.
As long as the shrimp was fresh when you first froze it, it will still be safe to consume. It is best to throw away the worst-affected shrimp before cooking them.
How To Prevent Freezer Burn Shrimp
- Keep your deep freeze set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit or less. At this temperature, food that is put in freezes rapidly, so the ice crystals that form are smaller.
- Correct packaging is the number one way to prevent freezer burn. Package the shrimp properly before freezing to minimize the amount of exposure to the air.
- Wrap the seafood (or any other food) in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, then put it into a freezer bag. Remove as much air as you can from the packaging.
- Try not to open your freezer too often as this causes the temperature to fluctuate, causing more ice crystals to form.
- Use frozen food quickly. Only buy as much shrimp as you intend to use in the next 2-6 months. When you package the food to freeze, label it clearly with the date so that the oldest shrimp can be used up first.
How Do I Know If the Shrimp Is Off?
You may be worried that your shrimp doesn’t only have freezer burn, but is also bad. If your dates are correct and the freezer temperature is right, look at and smell the shrimp after it has been defrosted.
If it smells bad, has a sour smell, is dull in color, or has a slimy feel, rather throw it away. It is better to bin a few dollars’ worths of shrimp than become severely ill.
To Conclude
Use up your stock of frozen foods quickly so that nothing is stored for too long. Although freezer burn causes a deterioration in color, texture, and flavor, your shrimp should still be safe to eat. Stay safe!