freezer smell reasons, why does the freezer in the house smell bad and how can it be avoided? From the Expert – know why your freezer smells so bad and what you can do about it
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For example, many of us will be familiar with the smell that comes from fermentation or yeast – a microbial process. When fermenting a food, we intentionally contaminate it with microbes of known characteristics, or provide conditions that cause the desirable microbes to grow and subsequently produce aromatic compounds. In contrast, uncontrolled food spoilage is problematic, especially when contaminating microbes can cause disease. Freezing changes food. It’s not only microbial growth that can lead to unwanted odors. Chemical processes also take place in the freezer. Freezing causes physical changes in foods, which often accelerate their spoilage. Many of us will be familiar with “freezer burn” on meat and other foods, as well as ice crystals on frozen food. This process is called ‘salt rejection’. Sometimes the concentration of salts is also responsible for how fast something freezes.
It is certain that the temperature required for freezing of pure water is lower than that required for freezing of salt water containing sugar and salt. This happens on a large scale with icebergs in the ocean. As sea water freezes, the salt is removed from it. Thus, the iceberg’s water becomes desalinated, and the surrounding ocean water becomes more saline and denser. Similarly, as water in food freezes, organic molecules concentrate and precipitate out. If these are unstable, they tend to move around the freezer and stick to other things. Where they stick depends on what else is around. Some volatiles like water. We call them “hydrophilic”; They like water, they are the ones that spoil the taste of your food. Others are more water-hating or “hydrophobic” and will stick to things like silicone ice cube trays, making them smelly.
Household freezers are usually attached to a refrigerator, and this provides another opportunity for odors to move through the system. The two units share a cooling source and airflow channel. If the food inside your fridge smells bad (after natural or microbial spoilage), it is very likely that they will migrate to your freezer. Help, my freezer stinks! There are some simple steps you can take to keep your freezer from smelling bad. First, try to prevent odors from developing by covering the food. If you store food in an airtight container (glass is best), it will dramatically slow down the release of bacteria or any odorous compounds produced by the food itself. Covered food is also less likely to absorb the odors and flavors of other foods around it.
If odors have already developed, you can eliminate them by taking a few simple steps, including a thorough cleaning. Remove all items from the freezer and inspect the foods for any spoilage, freezer burn or unpleasant odors. Remove any that develop ice crystals and store the rest in a cooler box. You should also inspect the fridge and remove any bad-smelling foods. Once you’ve removed all the items, remove the fridge shelves and clean up any spilled food or drinks. Now wipe down all surfaces using a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda in warm soapy water or just warm water.
Wash all shelves and ice boxes and allow them to dry completely. If these simple cleaning measures don’t remove the odor, the freezer may need a deep clean, which involves turning off the unit and leaving it to “breathe” for a few days. Placing some baking soda inside the freezer before placing food can help absorb any residual odors. Freezer cracks or insulation contamination can cause severe odors, in which case you may need a service technician. In short, even though we think freezers keep things “fresh,” germs can still proliferate. Be sure to clean your freezer from time to time to keep your food safe and healthy.
(Enzo Palombo and Rosalie Hawking, Swinburne University of Technology)
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