Can factor meals be frozen? Factor meals are tasty and delicious meals, they are always freshly made and healthy as well. This food delivery service package offers convenience as you don’t have to spend so much time preparing a meal.
Factor meals can fit into any kind of diet be it keto, high protein, low carb, vegetarian, or gluten-free diets. It is also highly nutritious and pre-cooked, however, sometimes you might find that you have some leftover factor meal for the week. The expected question on your mind now is can you freeze factor meals?
Yes, you can freeze factor meals. Opened factor meals can last for as long as the stated timeline on the packaging, however, frozen factor meals stored in an air-tight container can last for months.
There is a lot to learn about freezing factor meals, this article contains a lot of information that would interest you.
How Long Do Factor Meals Last In The Freezer?
Factor meals can be kept fresh in the freezer for a long time. That being said, the ingredient used to prepare can determine how long they would last in the freezer. Typically, the freezer can prolong the shelf life of factor meals to up to 3 months.
Vegetables and meat from factor meals freeze very well but you should also note that some factor meals may not taste as great as they used to after staying frozen for too long. It is best to freeze factor meals for a shorter time.
How To Freeze Factor Meals
The number one rule when freezing factor meals is that you must freeze them separately, as mixing it all up in the freezer is not ideal. Here are steps on how to freeze factor meals;
How To Freeze Sealed Factor Meals
Freezing sealed or unopened factor meals is very easy and straightforward, you don’t need to transfer them to an air-tight container or a freezer-safe bag. If you are not satisfied with freezing them with the initial packaging, you can wrap them in aluminum foil paper to better secure them.
How To Freeze Opened Factor Meals
You can store opened factor meals in a freezer-safe bag or in an air-tight container as this will help retain the integrity and sweetness of the factor meal. Always make sure you get as much air as possible if you are storing the factor meal in a freezer-safe bag.
Once that is done you can label the bag or container with the name of the meal and a date. Now your factor meal is ready to be kept in the freezer. You can freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating Frozen Factor Meal
Frozen factor meals can not be consumed unless they are reheated. Before you reheat your factor meal, it is best to thaw them for 1-4 days in the fridge. This ensures that the texture of the food doesn’t get soggy or that the quality of the taste is retained.
If you are quite in a hurry you can also place the properly sealed bag or container containing the factor meal under cold running water.
After successfully thawing or defrosting factor meals, you can heat them up in the oven or microwave depending on your preferences. However when reheating with the oven ensure that the meal is transferred to an oven-safe dish.
You can start by setting the heat for 5 minutes in the microwave if you are not satisfied with the warmth you can heat it for a minute interval. If you are using an oven allow it warm for about 10-15 minutes. Also, note that these heating timeframes solely depend on the meal.
Can Factor Meals Be Left Out?
It will be a bad idea to leave out factor meals longer than 3 hours.
This is why we recommend that you refrigerate or freeze them immediately after they are delivered. Usually, factor meals are a week’s supply of food, do not leave them out unless they would all get spoilt and staled.
Refrigerated factor meals can last for 7-10 days while frozen factor meals are good for 3 months. It is only certain that factor meals will only last for 2-3 hours at room temperature.
Is It Okay To Refreeze Factor Meals?
Refreezing thawed and heated factor meal will significantly reduce the freshness, taste, and texture of the meal. Do not refreeze factor meals especially after they have been reheated.
One other reason why you shouldn’t consider refreezing factor meals is the risk of bacterial contamination due to the multiple changes in temperature, the meal has undergone. To avoid refreezing factor meals we recommend that you freeze them in small portions.
Conclusion
Factor meals are undoubtedly fresh, healthy, and nutritious meals, and it will be terrible to see these meals go to waste due to inadequate storage or preservation. Fator meals can be frozen, thawed, and reheated.
However, refreezing them could equally reduce the integrity and quality of the food. This article also strongly advises against leaving out factor meals for long hours.
