Freezer Burn Fix: How to Remove That Stale Taste from Your Food

Freezer burn taste can be a major turnoff when you’re trying to eat something that you want. We’ve all been there, and it was never a good experience.

Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to eliminate that unpleasant flavor from your frozen food.

Here’s how to get rid of freezer burn that tastes like it was never there.

What is Freezer Burn?

Freezer burn happens when food loses moisture and gets exposed to air while frozen. This process causes dehydration and oxidation, which lead to dry, tough textures and unappetizing flavors. It often appears as icy crystals or discolored patches on meats, vegetables, or even baked goods.

The main culprits behind freezer burn are improper storage and extended freezing time. Thin or damaged packaging allows air to seep in, while fluctuating freezer temperatures speed up moisture loss. Foods stored for too long—even in airtight containers—can eventually develop freezer burn.

While freezer-burned food is still safe to eat, the quality takes a hit. The affected areas tend to taste stale, with a slightly metallic or cardboard-like flavor. Meats become tougher, vegetables turn rubbery, and baked goods dry out.

Preventing freezer burn starts with proper storage. Using vacuum-sealed bags, airtight containers, and labeling foods with freezing dates helps keep ingredients fresh for longer.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Freezer Burn Taste

1. Remove Portions with Freezer Burn

Removing the portion of the freezer-burnt food is probably the easiest and fastest alternative to save the rest of your freezer-burnt foods, like pork meat, chicken breast, ice cream, ground beef, ice cream, and many other frozen foods.

2. Cook It Up in Soup or Stew

We all know that freezer-burnt foods don’t taste good, so making it up in a soup or stew could help mask its bland taste. 

Try to cook meat slowly so it doesn’t lose more moisture and rehydrates slowly; this will improve its flavors and taste great.

3. Marinate or Soak It In Sauce

Marinating or soaking it in a sauce before cooking can help impart a more pleasant and palatable taste to the food.

Choose a marinade that contains a blend of herbs and spices, such as Italian dressing or teriyaki sauce. Let the food sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

4. Counteract It with Brining

Brining is a process that uses a salty liquid solution to hydrate the food and add flavor. By using brine to “refresh” freezer-burned food, you can help disguise the taste and texture of the freezer burn.

5. Add Herbs, Spices, and Sugar

If brining isn’t your thing, you can also add a combination of fresh herbs, spices, and sugar to help cover up the freezer-burn taste. 

Check out: What Does Freezer Burn Taste Like?

How To Get Rid of Freezer Burn Taste On The Following

Meat

The first step is to cut the freezer-burned sections and discolored portions to get rid of the freezer burns on meat. You can also soak the meat in a brine solution to mitigate moisture loss and unpleasant aftertaste.

Fish

Marinating works great on fish in getting rid of the freezer-burn taste, as fish meats tend to absorb flavors in marinade and sauces well.

Just like pork, beef, chicken, bread, and other freezer-burnt food, if the damage is severe, you can just remove the most affected portion and marinate the rest before cooking.

Ice Cream

Freezer-burned Ice cream usually forms ice crystals on top of its surface. Simply remove or scrape off the freezer-burned parts, and you can enjoy the rest.

You can also turn it into a smoothie and add some fruits to add other flavors.

Vegetables 

For vegetables, the best way to get rid of the freezer-burn taste is to blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes. This will help to rehydrate the vegetables and remove any unpleasant taste.

Fruits

Depending on its size, you can cut off or just discard the severely damaged ones, or you can put them in a blender to make a puree and add some sweeteners to enhance and add fresh flavors.

You can also cut them into bite-sized pieces and dehydrate them through a dehydrator or in the oven.

Best Solution to Get Rid of Freezer Burn Taste Chart

Type of Food	Solution	Possible Result
Meat	Remove the severely freezer-burned meat	Severely freezer-burned meat that can potentially ruin the whole dish will be removed, thus making it more palatable.This works on pork, chicken, beef, turkey, and other meat products.
Fish	Marinate	By marinating the freezer-burnt fish, you’ll be able to improve its bland taste with your flavorful marinade.
Ice Cream	Scape off the surface of the freezer-burned portions where ice crystals form	You can enjoy and savor the rest of it by scraping it off little by little until all the ice crystals in the ice cream are removed.
Vegetables	Cook vegetables in a stew or soup	Adding them to a soup dish with other ingredients can mask off or camouflage its bland taste with no problem.
Fruits	Turn into a puree	This will likely turn an almost throwable fruit into a delicious and healthy drink.

What Does Freezer Burn Taste Like?

Freezer-burned foods have a distinct taste, which can be described as dry and slightly gritty. It can also be quite salty, depending on the food affected. 

It usually has a leathery texture, and the freezer burn flavor is unpleasant, with a metallic or chemical flavor. It can also dry food, leading to a lack of flavor. [1]

What Causes It?

A combination of dehydration and oxidation causes freezer burn. When food is stored in a freezer, the humidity of the air within the freezer quickly drops, leading to dehydration. 

“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.”

– Alan D. Wolfelt, Author

Cold temperatures also cause oxidation; when the food loses its moisture or water molecules, it becomes dry and discolored.

Moisture loss can develop freezer burn, which can lead to dried-out, tough, and flavorless food. [2]

Read: How Long Are Pork Chops Good In The Freezer?

Will Freezer Burn Taste Ruin the Food’s Taste?

Freezer burns can definitely ruin the taste of frozen food. Freezer burns are caused by air coming into contact with the food, which causes the moisture in the food to evaporate, leaving it dry and discolored. 

Tips & Tricks To Prevent Freezer Burn 

• Ensure the freezer is kept to zero degrees Fahrenheit or below to prevent freezer burn.
•  Keep the freezer door closed as much as possible to prevent cold air from escaping.
• Ensure food is tightly wrapped and sealed in air-tight containers or bags.
• Label and date food before freezing to avoid confusion about what is in the freezer. [3]
• Place older items near the front of the freezer, so they are used first.
• Keep warm items from entering the freezer, which will raise the temperature.
• Avoid overstuffing, and keep the freezer clean and organized so air can circulate properly.

FAQs on Fixing Freezer Burn

In Summary

Freezer burn is an unpleasant taste and texture caused by dehydration and oxidation of your frozen goods in the freezer. It can lead to dry, tough, and flavorless food and ruin its taste.

Though there are many ways to save freezer-burned foods, it’s better to prevent them from that situation. Proper storage is still one of the best keys to getting rid of freezer burns

References: 

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/freezer-burn 
2. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-freezer-burn-meat 
3. https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/package_label.html 
4. https://www.thekitchn.com/can-you-eat-something-that-has-freezer-burn-heres-what-the-usda-says-246512