Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with frozen

Why did only one bottle of water freeze?

amro — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:27:24 -0800

Why did only one bottle of water freeze? I left two 20 oz. plastic bottles of water in my car overnight, right next to each other in the cup holders. One froze solid, the other remained entirely liquid. The one that froze was Dasani brand, and the bottle was 3/4 of the way full. The one that remained liquid was Aquafina, and was 2/3 of the way full. How is this possible? I know Dasani puts sodium in their water, but wouldn't that make it take longer to freeze?

Help me wrap and present delicious but frozen food.

anderjen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:24:16 -0800

This Christmas, I'm giving everyone the gift of delicious and healthy home-cooked meals, but I'm blanking on how to wrap and/or present them at the Christmas Eve festivities. Everything will be pre-frozen, which probably rules out putting them by the tree with the other gifts, and the only other solution I can think of is leaving them in my car and letting everyone take theirs on the way home, which is lame. There must be a better way. As I'm picturing it, everything will be frozen and packaged into reusable Gladware-type containers. Once frozen, are there any cheap ways of keeping them cold and dry to the point where I could actually wrap them and set them under the tree for a few hours until we get to the gift opening, and then again until people can get them home? I don't want anything to defrost too much, obviously.

The one thing I really do not want to do is buy each recipient a mini-cooler and ice packs because that kind of defeats the purpose of a low-cost/all-consumable present in my mind, and also there are 10 people, which would blow my budget.

If I do have to leave them in the car (which is a viable option, as I live in Minnesota), any cool ideas on what I could use or make to represent the meals for maximum effect? The rest of the gift will consist of other homemade treats and snacks, so there will be something open for sure, but the main meal is kind of the piece de resistance, so I'd like to make sure it doesn't get missed in a pile of wrapping paper.

I am certainly open to better ideas and suggestions if you have any. Thanks, all!

Frozen Egg White Recipe?

cranberryskies — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:06:35 -0800

Help me find the recipe of a delicious frozen dessert I had years ago? A few years ago, I was at a gathering where someone brought a delicious homemade frozen dessert.

All I can recall of this dessert was that it had been frozen, and seemed to be made of egg whites (it had that airy, light, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and was not chewy). It may or may not have had nuts. It was nice and light, not too sweet. The dessert was shaped like a big pile of meringue, with lots of peaks. I remember it being crumbly and breaking apart easily (the piece that ended up on your plate was a pile of messy frozen dessert).

Any idea what this dessert might be, and perhaps even a recipe? I've checked online, and the closest dessert I can find is the pavlova, but I don't think that's what the dessert was - the shape is different, it was definitely frozen, the inside was not marshmallow-y, and there were no fruits or whipped cream involved. This did not help.

The person who made the dessert was originally from Israel, if that helps.

How much am I hurting the environment when I have a sushi tuna roll?

underwater — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:02:20 -0800

What are the thermodynamics of frozen sushi-grade tuna? I just toured the Tsukiji Fish Market and learned that the tuna there is kept on the boat at -48 Celsius for up to 2 years before it is delivered to the market. How much energy is expended in this process, and how does this information translate into the environmental impact of me eating a tuna roll? Say a bluefin tuna weighs 200kg, and let's assume an average tuna is kept frozen for one year and that the tuna is at 15 degrees Celsius when caught (I couldn't find great data on this; tuna body temperature is higher than the average water temperature, but I couldn't find absolute data on this--please chip in if you have any), and that a tuna roll contains one oz. of tuna.

I don't know how the tuna is frozen or what energy source is used for this, so I'm not sure how to make assumptions about that, but perhaps you do.

I guess TCBY were ahead of their time...

I EAT TAPAS — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:54:18 -0800

Everywhere I look there's a brand new little self-serve yogurt place with a different but strangely similar name. Pinkberry. Red Mango. Yogurt Circle. Yocup. Sogreen. Freshberry. Yogen Fruz. Tuttimelon. Nubi. One can expect a certain degree of copycatism with food trends, but it seems that there must have been some sort of catalyst for so many of these places to spring up so quickly with such similar products and business models at the same time. What brought this on?

At the risk of looking like a kitchen idiot

Countess Elena — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:04:11 -0800

How can I take care that when I'm reheating glass jars of frozen sauce (or any food) on the stove, they won't shatter? I won't finish a whole jar of pasta sauce (or anything jarred) at once, and I need to freeze it if I won't eat the rest within a week. If I am planning ahead, I can take out the sauce in the morning to thaw to room temperature by evening, and then the sauce can be removed and reheated in another container.

Often I am not that together, so I want to thaw out a frozen jar of pasta sauce ASAP. The last time I tried this with a microwave, the glass shattered. The jar broke in half after I had taken it out of the microwave, set it on a cool surface, and turned my back. This must have happened due to a rapid temperature change that the ordinary glass wasn't made to handle. I have been wary of trying it since.

These days I don't have a microwave. The old way that I learned to heat up a frozen jar is to set the jar in a saucepan half full of cool water, then heat the water to boiling until the sauce is thawed out enough to decant into another saucepan and heat up alone. Is this Generally Recognized As Safe?

how safe is this chicken

a womble is an active kind of sloth — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:03:43 -0800

I just found a frozen chicken dish in the freezer that is one year out of date. So hive mind, if I microwave it thoroughly, would it be safe to eat?

Can I Eat This? If So, Got Any Recipes?

wendell — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:11:23 -0800

3 pound package of frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts accidentally thawed to room temperature (out of freezer 10 hours). Yes I'm an idiot. That's not the question. What should I do with it? I had not yet unsealed the bag, so can it still be safely consumed, or do I just take a $5.99 loss (it was a great coupon deal)? Will refreezing it once earn the ire of Alton Brown? (I'd have to put each piece in its own little bag, since it would otherwise refreeze as one big solid block.) Or can I store it in the refrigerator with confidence? Or should I cook it all up NOW and then fridge or freeze?

But it's just me and 3 pounds of chicken, and my repertoire of recipes is not very varied, so I'd appreciate any suggestions of tasty low-fat ways to prep it that will freeze well... (allergic to peanuts, low tolerance for HOT, and just don't like mushrooms; otherwise go crazy)

Will my spigots freeze?

roaring beast — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:24:41 -0800

Do I need to wrap my outdoor spigots to prevent freezing? We are experiencing our first few days of freezing temps. I was always told to wrap up the outdoor spigots so they wouldn't freeze. However, since the wraps will be the same temp as the air, I can't see how this would help very much. I have already disconnected the garden hoses. House is about 25 years old, on a slab (no basement/crawlspace). Is there anything I need to do?

Previously

Tasty, nutritious and healthy frozen food wanted

reenum — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:56:47 -0800

Need recommendations as to tasty prepared frozen meals available in the U.S. Work has gotten out of hand, so my time to cook has been severely limited.

I need recommendations as to frozen meals (TV dinners) or other foods that are healthy and somewhat nutritious, but that also don't taste like cardboard. I've been subsisting on some passable Lean Cuisines for a week, and need to branch out into other brands.

Suggestions as to things that can be cooked quickly (e.g. 20-30 minutes) and frozen are also welcome.

Thanks!

How do you recover an unresponsive desktop under Mac OSX?

stevanl — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:28:40 -0800

Is there any way to salvage a frozen/unresponsive desktop under Mac OSX? I've just been trying out Boxee and for some reason the desktop froze up and the mouse was unresponsive, and Command-Tab didn't work.

However, some keys worked, like the iTunes control buttons on the keyboard (play, pause, volume, etc). It seems as if the computer was responding in the background and just the windows stopped responding.

Is there any way to recover from this? Is there a command, or actionscript that can reset the desktop somehow?

Help me stop eating raw french fries

thisjax — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:46:30 -0800

I need a healthier snacking alternative to raw frozen french fries. Help? As odd as it sounds, I really like eating uncooked, slightly thawed french fries — especially the bargain-basement uncoated/unseasoned type. I've always kind of liked them served this way, but over the past year or so I've gotten somewhat hooked on them, generally eating 2-3 bags per week. My diet is otherwise pretty healthy and low in bad carbs and fat, but these fries aren't doing my figure any favours. Is there a healthier, lower-carb alternative with a similar mouthfeel?

I quit cooking

b33j — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:05:33 -0800

What do I need to know about frozen diet foods in Australia? Mr b33j and I need to lose weight, hate cooking and like different types of foods than each other (I'm more adventurous, he's more meat and 3 vege). We’re thinking about trying the frozen diet foods route for while. What can you tell me about Lean Cuisine, McCain’s, Lite & Easy, Jenny Craig, the Diet Factory etc?

I've noticed not all have the Heart Foundation tick - is this important? If we have a high fibre cereal or toast for breaky, and a sanger for lunch, are we going to meet our nutritional requirements? By the way, we need to go shopping every week anyhow, for the offsprings' food (they cook their own) and cat food and toiletries and stuff.

Tips? Good or bad experiences?

Frozen Coconut Oil Turned Green

An Infinity Of Monkeys — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:47:12 -0800

We had some coconut oil in containers in our freezer (we use the oil for popping popcorn - we buy it in bulk and then freeze it for later) and for some reason this latest batch has all turned green. It's been in sealed Tupperware-like containers, the same ones we have always used, and it's always stayed a nice golden color before. We just now went to take one out and noticed the green color through the plastic, and upon checking saw they had all turned the same color. Opened one up, and it smells funny too. We're going to throw it all out, containers and all, but were just wondering what might have happened so we can avoid it happening again (35 lbs. of coconut oil is expensive).

Would-be Paletera

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:18:11 -0800

I want to make popsicles. Actually, quiero hacer paletas. I can NOT find paleta molds. Help?? Good popsicle, ice pop, paleta molds, without this "drip guard" horseshit that makes it a freaking trial to eat the last 8% of your popsicle. Popsicle eating must not feel like a trial. Drip guards? If your kid can't finish their popsicle in a timely manner, your kid shouldn't be allowed to eat popsicles.

The amazon reviews for this style are abyssmal.

Preferably large and rectangular.

Is my shoulder frozen forever?

the matching mole — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:18:56 -0800

Will my frozen shoulder ever stop hurting? Thirty years of Type 1 Diabetes caught up with me the year my first child was born. My right shoulder froze. I think it froze because I was suddenly carrying a 20lb baby bundle with my right arm all the time. I didn't seek treatment, because I was a first-time daddy, and I just thought it was strain and would correct itself. That was a big mistake.

A year later I saw an orthopedic doctor. He gave me steroid shots, which didn't help. He gave me 800mg Ibuprofin pills, which made me foggy and provided only temporary relief. He prescribed physical therapy, which hurt like hell but did not improve the pain or range of motion.

I then had a manipulation under anesthetic. The procedure restored about 70% of my motion (Yay, I can put my belt on by myself now) but the pain persists. I have since been stretching regularly (using the Whartons' active isolated stretching techniques) but the pain persists. I do not favor the arm, but then again I am not a weightlifter or gymnast.

One thing that concerns me is that the pain persists, whether I stretch or not. It's just different pain in different places. It's been over seven months since the manipulation, the pain persists, and my range of motion has improved little. Now I do the stretching just to prevent my left shoulder from freezing.

So, am I stuck with this frozen shoulder for life? Will the pain ever go away? I'd love to hear from other Mefites who have experienced a frozen shoulder.

Frozen chicken breasts: Treasure or poison?

ignignokt — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:48:54 -0800

Frozen chicken breasts and other frozen meats: Are they worthwhile? I'm considering a membership to one of those "wholesale club"-type stores. While I can see there's great savings to be had on paper products and toiletries, I'm not so sure about the food. (Also, the lines.) I did notice that they have what look like good deals on frozen meats. I saw a ten-pound bag of chicken breasts for $22. I eat a lot of chicken breasts, so that looks like a good deal.

However, the only frozen meats I have experience with is fish. I don't know how frozen chicken breasts (especially ones containing 15% retained water) hold up in terms of taste and nutrition. How have you guys' experiences with frozen chicken breasts been? How different are they from fresh ones?

Are there any other frozen meats that are worthwhile?

A walk on the wild side

grrarrgh00 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:30:50 -0800

How do I know if my frozen lake is solid enough to walk on? I'd love to watch tonight's lunar eclipse out on Lake Calhoun tonight. It being the middle of February, I'm pretty sure the ice is OK; except for a warm spell last weekend, it's been well below the average temperature for most of the last two weeks. But is there a rule of thumb I could go by, or (even better) an official ice status tracker for MN lakes I could refer to?

I want my home-made microwave foods to be crisp, but how?

vytae — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:50:51 -0800

I want relatively crisp reheated food from the microwave. Can can I buy or make something to do this for me, like that silvery-coated paperboard that comes with frozen foods? Many bread-related frozen foods come with microwave crisping devices - frozen personal pizzas have round trays, hot pockets have wrap-around sleeves, and Lean Cuisine paninis come with the "revolutionary grilling tray". I know I can put together a healthier, cheaper melt sandwich or mini pizza if I make it myself, but the only source of heat in my office kitchen is a microwave. Without the magic crisper thing, I get soggy, unappetizing food.

Using google I've discovered that these coated paperboard things are called "susceptors" and I've found a couple companies that manufacture them for the food industry, but so far nobody seems to sell them directly to the consumer. Do you know where I could buy them? Or, can I make something at home to help crisp up my microwaved foods? I would experiment with aluminum foil, but I'm nervous about setting my kitchen on fire.

I've seen the Waveware Microwave Crisping Dish, but the reviews don't inspire much confidence. If you know anything more about this or similar products, I'd love to hear it.

Cheapest prices, in the 5 boroughs of NYC, for Amy's frozen foods?

sparrows — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:24:06 -0800

Cheapest prices, in the 5 boroughs of NYC, for Amy's frozen foods? Specifically, do you know any store where the Pockets are regularly less than $2.19, or the Tofu Lasagna is regularly less than $3.99? Those are best individual prices I've found (my freezer's too small for me to buy a case).

Frozen Booze

sycophant — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:22:39 -0800

Ever made slushy cocktails? We're renting a slushy machine for a party in a week. We're looking for recipe ideas... The machine we've rented has two 12L barrels (it's just the same as the slushy machines at the gas station, or whatever).

All the recipes I've found online tend to rely of supplied mixes, which aren't available to us. We were hoping some here on the Green have made frozen boozy goodness in the past, and may have some suggestions.

Currently, I'm leaning toward the idea of Pina Colada and Margatita and may just scale up the recipes for the regular cocktails. Or just pouring Rum, Coconut Cream and Pineapple juice in the barrel until the fun starts.

POW! POWer POWders for my Smoothies!

prophetsearcher — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:52:00 -0800

What can I add to my smoothies to get some bonus health benefits? I recently got a Magic Bullet because I looove smoothies, but I haaate overpaying for them.

Meanwhile, I'm on a health kick, and desperately eager to lose some weight in the next month. This is mainly through better portion control, smarter food decisions, and increased exercise.

Bringing it together: What powders can I buy to add to my daily smoothie? I hear and read about protein powders, vitamin powders, etc. etc., but don't know where to look for what. I just figure I have the opportunity to healthify my drinks, so I may as well.

Some things about me:
I don't eat enough veggies or healthy foods. I am about 15 lbs. heavier than I'd like to be. I'm 24. I'm more generally sedentary than active. I'm male. I'm paunchy, but want to be muscley. I'm balding too early.

Some things about my smoothies:
I usually throw in some combination of -- fresca, OJ, grape juice, ice, frozen strawberries, frozen raspberries, lemon juice, lime juice, sorbet, ice, Crystal Ice lemonade, and more ice. (But not more than two or three of the above at a time, the list is just my arsenal).

I'm intrigued by the protein powder idea. Because it seems people who drink them are ripped. But I assume there's some other steps involved. Where should I begin?

What's the plan for all this frozen breastmilk?

Joh — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:57:17 -0800

What is the plan for all this frozen breastmilk I am saving? As instructed by the lactation consultant, I have been duly pumping breastmilk as well as breastfeeding since my son was born. He feeds on demand, and I produce about 5 or 6oz of "excess" breastmilk a day, which goes into the freezer. Its taking over the freezer now (its a pretty small freezer), and I am starting to wonder what exactly I'm saving it for. As I understand it, frozen breastmilk has a 3 month shelf life, so I am going to have to start doing something with the first lots in about a month's time. I presume I will cycle the oldest bags out, defrost and feed to him at night (when we give him bottles of breastmilk while I pump, because its about 10x faster than breastfeeding him). Will I gradually use up the supplies as he demands more and more milk as he grows, or will i just have a freezer full of milk until I wean him? I plan to return to work in October, and will try and pump at work. How did you use up your stash of frozen breastmilk? What should my plan be?

Online IT forums, where art thou?

Smarson — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:19:57 -0800

It's almost 60 degrees outside, so why is my computer frozen? ( know any free online IT help forums?) My fiance's notebook has been freezing up lately. If you really want to know the details, they're available here. What I'd really like to know is if anyone has some recommendations for good online IT help forums that would at least help me to rule out quick fixes before I decide to to go with reformatificationalism of the ol' hard drive?

When will frozen lakes kill me?

ztdavis — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:19:20 -0800

Under what conditions are frozen lakes safe to be on? Is any noise coming from a lake bad or just earth shattering cracks nearby? Sorry of this seems silly I live in Bloomington, Indiana. I have had several occasions to walk around on frozen lakes, but not often enough to have what I would call "experience" doing so and I've never heard or been given any particular instructions in terms of safety precautions.

How thick is thick enough? Is there a way to easily ascertain thickness by sight or sound (and not cutting)? What about when it's snow covered? Deep rumbling seems like an okay thing, but when do you know it's not?

One of our lakes (Griffy) has been frozen for at least a week, during which I've gone walking around on it several times. Just yesterday I went walking on it in the middle of the day while many others were walking around and some people were ice fishing. Tonight, when it's even colder, I went back out with some friends and you could distinctly hear what sounded like distant rumblings. At one point there was a distinct, nearby, cracking noise that prompted our leaving.

From a logical standpoint it seems like a frozen mass that large would be constantly slightly shifting, and thus cracking, but when does this spell certain death and when is it just "normal" and not to be worried about. Or should it always be worried about?