OUR esteemed gastronomic French neighbours think nothing of the odd trip to frozen food chain Chez Picard. But in Britain, we’re a little less proud about our trips to Iceland.

Never mind that frozen food is an efficient and cost-effective means of feeding ourselves, and the fact that we throw away more than 6.7 million tonnes of food each year, many still find it hard to admit that tonight’s dinner comes courtesy of Captain Bird’s Eye.

Still, attitudes are definitely changing. Last year Delia advocated using frozen mashed potato in her book How to Cheat at Cooking and Iceland Foods reported a 16 per cent jump in sales.

So is it time to knock our frozen food snobbery on the head, and tackle our hidden fears about freezers?

A third of those interviewed recently by Bird’s Eye said they had “no idea” what was in their freezer, despite it being full.

A further 39 per cent confessed to throwing away food simply because they couldn’t remember how long they’d had it and 16 per cent admitted to throwing away food straight from the freezer, simply to make room for newly bought produce.

According to chef James Tanner, many people also underestimate the length of time frozen food can safely be stored. They throw it away because they’re worried it’s not safe, he explains.

“Half of the people asked thought that frozen chicken and fish became unsafe after just three months, when in fact they can stay safe for years, as long as they remain frozen.”

According to James Tanner…

  • There is no time limit on how long food can be safely frozen. As long as it is kept frozen at -18C or below and remains properly frozen, it will not become unsafe.
  • Food bought ready frozen keeps its taste and texture better, and for much longer, than food frozen at home. This is because it was frozen quickly and deeply, when the food was at its freshest.
  • The optimum freezer temperature for preserving food quality is -18C or below. This is cold enough to ensure food stays properly frozen and avoids ice crystals forming, which can reduce food quality.
  • Fresh food can be frozen at any point up to the ‘use by’ date and remain safe. If chilled food is approaching its ‘use by’ date and might not be eaten, move it from the fridge to the freezer so that it doesn’t end up in the bin. When defrosted, use it within 24 hours.

Now why not try some of James's recipes to use up those frozen greens in your freezer?

Just click recipes in the navigation bar.