Freezer Hints and Tips

If everyone in the UK upgraded their old cold appliances to an energy saving recommended product, energy wastage would be cut by over two-thirds. Enough CO2 would be saved to fill 24 million double-decker buses and the electricity saved would be equivalent to the annual output of three 700MW power stations.

Bear in mind that two differently sized freezers can have the same energy rating, but the smaller model will use less energy and cost less to run. Make sure the size is right for your needs and the interior suits your normal shop. Otherwise you will be 'fuelling' empty space.

Take the opportunity to save money and energy while you are on holiday. If you go away for more than a fortnight, clear your fridge and turn it off. Make sure you leave the door ajar to prevent mould forming.

Zone A: Cool area for dairy products, preserves and jam, salad dressings or sauces.
Zone B: Colder area for general food storage.
Zone C: Coldest area for meat, fish & poultry.
Zone D: Salad, fruit and vegetables.

1 Star -6°C: Ice cubes can be made and frozen food can be stored for a few days.
2 Star -12°C: Ice cubes can be made and frozen food can be stored for several weeks.
3 Star - 18°C: Ice cubes can be made and frozen food can be stored for several months.
4 Stars -18°C: Fresh food and home cooked foods can be frozen in this compartment and stored for several months. Some foods can be stored here for up to 1 year.

Follow "best before/Use by " guidelines for maximum storage time

Keep foods covered to retain moisture and prevent flavour/odour transfer. Plastic bags, aluminium foil and cling film are ideal.

Select chilled and frozen food last when shopping, transport in a cool bag and place in the appliance as soon as possible after arriving home

Allow hot food to cool down in covered containers before placing in an appliance, as doing so may warm up other food already in the product. Do not leave the doors open for longer than is necessary.

Do not use to store poisons, flammables or dangerous substances as your domestic product has been designed for the storage of edible food stuffs and medicines only.

Fruit & Vegetables
Most types of fruit & vegetables freeze well, although some are not recommended for freezing:

• Bananas & Avocados (will turn black if frozen)
• Boiled potatoes (unless mashed)
• Raw celery (will lose crispness if frozen)
• Salad vegetables (will lose crispness if frozen)
• Raw whole tomatoes (will collapse if frozen)

Sauces, etc

• Glazes (will turn runny if frozen)
• Cream (will separate if frozen)
• Yoghurt (will separate if frozen)
• Custard (will separate if frozen)
• Soft meringue (turns watery if frozen)
• Eggs (yolks and whites should be frozen separately)

Most types of fruit freeze well (also see "Food not suitable for freezing"), although some freeze best if prepared for storage in a particular way. For example, soft fruits are best frozen on open trays and then packed into rigid containers. Other fruits are best frozen in sugar layers or syrup. We suggest you refer to specialist freezer cookery books for details.

Most types of vegetables freeze well (also see "Food not suitable for freezing"), however vegetables that are cooked first usually freeze best. Most vegetables should be blanched and chilled before freezing. Unlike meats and fish, most vegetables can be cooked from frozen.

Storage Time Guidelines

• Onions (6 months)
• Cauliflower (6 months)
• Carrots (12 months)
• Beans (12 months)
• Sprouts (12 months)
• Peas (12 months)
• Spinach (12 months)

Ensure that your meat is in first class condition before freezing. All meat should be thoroughly defrosted before cooking / consumption.

Storage Time Guidelines

• Cured meat (1.5 months)
• Mince (1.5 months)
• Offal (2 months)
• Sausages (6 months)
• Pork (6 months)
• Beef (12 months)
• Lamb (12 months)

Fresh poultry should be frozen on day of purchase. Cooked poultry must be thoroughly cooled (10°C) before freezing. All poultry should be thoroughly defrosted before cooking / consumption.

Storage Time Guidelines

• Giblets (3 months)
• Duck (6 months)
• Goose (6 months)
• Game birds (6 months)
• Turkey (12 months)
• Chicken (12 months)

Fresh fish & seafood should be frozen on day of purchase. All fish & seafood should be thoroughly defrosted before cooking / consumption.

Storage Time Guidelines

• Scampi & prawns (1 month)
• Crabs & lobster (1 month)
• Trout, herring, other oily/smoked fish (3 months)
• Cod, similar white fish (6 months)

Clean outside with a mild detergent, then inside with an anti-bacterial cleaner available from most supermarkets.

HooverCool freezers have Quick Chill Zones that will chill a bottle of wine 45% faster than convential freezers.

In Hoover Frost Free Upright Freezers, the Freeze Fresh Zone enables you to rapidly freeze food from fresh to frozen in only four hours, thus preserving natural goodness and nutritional values. What's more, when defrosted, food maintains it's texture.

Do not put hot food in the freezer.
Do not pack foods close together as this prevents air from circulating. Make sure nothing touches the back of the freezer.
If electricity goes off, keep the door shut to preserve the coldness.
Do not clean the ice away with a knife, screwdriver or any thing made of metal.