Freezer Paper Is The Surefire Way To Protect Your Foods Long-Term

Many may be more familiar with parchment paper, which can be instrumental in all sorts of baking applications, but freezer paper also plays an important role in the kitchen. Sometimes confused with butcher paper, this item is especially designed to protect food. It may be one of the most underrated tools for preserving food, and it could help you save money as well. How many times have you had to toss out frozen foods because the freezer's arctic climate damaged it?

So how does freezer paper work? This heavy duty paper has a special coating on one side that helps protect against freezer burn. This coating is made from a form of plastic called polyethylene, and it forms a barrier between the food item and the paper in order to lock in moisture. Loss of that moisture in a piece of meat or fish is what can lead to freezer burn. Freezer paper helps prevent leaks as well. If you wrap a piece of steak in freezer paper, none of the meat's juices will drip out. The dull side of the paper is easy to write on making it a handy way to keep track of what's what in the freezer.

Freezer paper doesn't just protect your frozen foods — it has a number of other uses, too. The paper works great for wrapping sandwiches for a picnic or storing freshly made pasta. People also love to use it to wrap cheese since its special coating will keep the cheese from drying out. In regard to non-food purposes, its leak-proof design makes it the perfect table covering for arts and crafts projects because glue and other liquid spills won't leak through to the table. Some quilters rely on freezer paper to create their design patterns for iron-on appliqués as well.

If you want to try out freezer paper for yourself, it's readily available online and at restaurant supply stores. You may also find it at some national chain stores, such as Walmart and Target. Freezer paper comes in both rolls and individual sheets and in white or natural brown. It costs around $6 for a 100-square-foot roll.