
In daily life, many people are likely to be used to placing leftovers, soups or pre-cooked foods in the refrigerator and freezing them. At this time, a question is often mentioned: Can plastic containers be put in the freezer? Misuse can not only result in the shattering of the container, but may even make food unsafe. As a manufacturer of daily plasticware, LEBO will take you to take a deeper look at this common but easily overlooked problem today.
Why Do People Care About This Issue?
Freezing is also a most effective method to preserve food, but it has been found that plastic containers will become hard, be deformed, or have lids that cannot be opened when placed in the freezer. More seriously, if the material is inappropriate, poisonous materials will be emitted in a cold environment, causing harm to health. It is for this reason that it is even more necessary to find out what kinds of plastic containers are acceptable for storage by freezing.
What Kind of Plastic Containers Can Be Frozen?
Common types of plastics and their low-temperature resistance:
- PP (polypropylene): This is the most commonly used material for food containers. It has good cold and heat resistance, can be used in the freezer, and is suitable for microwave heating.
- PE (polyethylene): good flexibility, not easy to break, suitable for freezing liquid food.
- PET, PS, PVC and other materials: these materials tend to become brittle when frozen, there is a risk of breaking and releasing harmful ingredients, not recommended for freezing.
How to identify freezable materials?
There is usually a triangle mark with a number on the bottom of the container:
- #5 (PP) and #2 (HDPE): suitable for freezing
- #1 (PET), #6 (PS), #3 (PVC): not recommended for freezing
What Should Be Paid Attention to When Freezing Plastic Containers?
Reserve space
Liquids will expand when freezing, so be sure not to fill the container. It is recommended to leave 10%-20% of the space to prevent rupture.
Do not put hot food directly into the container for freezing
High temperature will damage the structure of the container material and may also cause bacteria to grow in the food during the cooling process. It should be cooled to room temperature before freezing.
Use a design with a sealed lid
A well-sealed container can prevent odor from entering the freezer, while avoiding water loss and extending the shelf life of food.
Choose a transparent or translucent design
It is convenient to check the internal contents, reduce the number of times the lid is opened, and improve the efficiency of use.
The Freezing Advantages of LEBO Plastic Containers
LEBO has been focusing on the production of daily plastic products for more than 30 years. Its freezing containers have the following advantages:
- Selected PP material, can be frozen and microwaved, and is not easy to deform when used alternately for hot and cold
- Various capacity specifications to meet the needs of home freezing, take-out packaging, and commercial use
- Highly sealed structure, leak-proof and anti-smell
- Food-grade material certification, safe and non-toxic
- Support OEM/ODM 사용자 지정 to meet brand differentiation needs
Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Containers
Q1: Will the container become brittle after freezing?
A: Suitable materials such as PP or PE still maintain toughness in a freezing environment and will not easily become brittle and crack.
Q2: Can it be heated directly after freezing?
A: Plastic containers suitable for microwave ovens (such as PP) can be heated directly, but be sure to remove or open the lid to avoid steam accumulation and explosion.
Q3: Can the frozen container be reused?
A: Of course. LEBO’s high-quality containers are durable, easy to clean, suitable for multiple cycles, environmentally friendly and economical.
Summary: How to Safely Use Plastic Containers to Freeze Food?
Understand the plastic material and choose the type that is resistant to freezing (such as PP, PE)
Correct use methods, such as reserving space and avoiding direct freezing of hot food
Use containers with good sealing and reasonable structure to maintain food quality
Pay attention to daily cleaning and maintenance to extend the service life of the container
LEBO: Reliable frozen plastic container manufacturer
With more than 30 years of production experience, LEBO 는 daily plasticware manufacturer that has always required strict material selection, exquisite craftsmanship, and practical design, and strives to provide cost-saving and eco-friendly wholesale plastic containers for global customers. Wholesale and customization are available, and we offer professional and reliable solutions for your business.
Need support or customization services? Feel free to contact us, LEBO is willing to be your trusted plastic products partner.