Frozen turkey portions are a great thing to keep in your freezer as you get to enjoy the convenience of simply getting the turkey bag out of your freezer, defrosting it quickly, and frying it up for whatever recipe you have chosen.
Turkey breast in particular cooks quickly so is perfect in stir-fries and for serving with a simple sauce and some rice. You’ll have dinner ready in no time!
However, at times you might come across phenomena such as the plastic storage bag being puffed up or expanding for no apparent reason. You may be wondering if there’s something wrong with your turkey such as has it gone off?
We’ve put together a few reasons why this might happen so keep reading to set your mind at ease.
Frozen Turkey Bag Puffed Up
1. Temperature Difference
Most of the time, you will find that the reason the bag has puffed up after you’ve taken it out of the freezer is because of the temperature difference between your freezer and the room temperature.
This is the simplest and most common explanation for this phenomenon. The air inside the frozen turkey bag expands due to the warmer room temperature and that will cause the bag to puff up a little. This is not something to worry about it as it is a natural phenomenon.
2. Air Leakage into the Bag
Another common reason that can cause you to face this problem is some air leakage into the bag. If the bag was not sealed properly, some extra air may have entered and caused the bag to expand a little.
It’s a good idea to always expel as much air as possible from the bag before freezing as this will prevent freezer burn. Use tightly sealed, airtight containers to freeze your turkey, or use Ziploc bags. If you have a vacuum sealing food sealer, even better.
Is it Safe?
Yes, if the turkey has been frozen at below zero temperatures and there are no apparent signs of rot on your turkey either, then it should be completely safe to eat.
Once you’ve defrosted the turkey, smell it to detect any signs of it being off. If it is fresh, it will not have much of a smell, but if it’s off, it will have an unpleasant or sour odor. A sulfur smell is a sure sign it’s bad.
The meat should be moist to the touch but not slimy. Also, it should have a pinkish color and should definitely not be greenish. If you are unsure, it is better to throw it out than risk a visit to the emergency room with a bout of food poisoning.
How to Avoid Bags Puffing Up
There are certainly ways for you to avoid the bags getting puffed up. Purchase airtight bags that are specifically made for the freezer.
Sandwich or other ordinary plastic bags are not strong enough to withstand freezing and can tear easily. Be sure to press out as much air as possible before sealing and freezing.
Alternatively, wrap the turkey in clingfilm and package it into freezer-safe containers.
We hope this has set your mind at rest about your bags of turkey getting puffed up.