[shel]

The ice cream, which is kept in the door of the freezer, is sometimes a quite a bit softer than other times, probably as a result of the freezer runing through it's cycles. The softer ice cream is great as it's easier to scoop. However, I wonder how these fluctuations will effect the long term quality of ice cream. Right now I'm buying store-bout varieties in small containers, but what about when I buy a large container that will sit in the freezer for a month or more? Will the fluctuations cause the quality to suffer?

Are there some parts of the freezer where these fluctuations don't occur. I'm concerned about longer term storage for other items, such as meat (I buy chicken and turkey for my cat, and sometimes, if there's a good deal, I may buy a lot).

Thanks!

shel

[phatch]

You'll probably have a quicker formation of ice crystals in the ice cream and freezer burn on the exposed surface of icecream in the container.

[Luc_H]

Hi Shel,

Yep ice crystals will appear if ice cream is stored too long in the freezer with a defrost cycle. For longterm storage a chest freezer works better because it does not cycle. (I think I posted something on that here?)

Luc H.