The freezer-safe symbol is typically represented by an icon of a snowflake or a stylized image of a freezer. This mark indicates that the material is designed to withstand sub-zero temperatures without cracking, becoming brittle, or releasing harmful chemicals into your food.
A snowflake is probably the most easily recognizable indication of cold, which makes it the perfect symbol to mark freezer safe kitchenware.
Anything That's Wet or Damp. You probably know where we're going with this one. "Anything wet or damp is not great to store in a plastic bin with a lid, as this will trap moisture and create mold," Hord says. Let damp or wet items dry out before storing them, or opt for a breathable storage bin material.
The healthiest containers for storing food are glass, stainless steel, and ceramic. These materials are inert, meaning they won't leach harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, or PFAS into your meals—even when exposed to heat.
A snowflake is used to label food suitable for deep freezing. This food can be stored in a deep freeze.
The ❄ symbol is a snowflake icon with multiple meanings depending on context: it represents actual snow and cold weather, acts as internet slang for someone overly sensitive, or is used in modern direct messaging to flirt or reference illicit substances.
Putting a penny (or any coin) in the freezer is an easy trick used to check if your freezer lost power while you were away, and whether your frozen food is still safe to eat.
Glass is generally the better choice for the freezer. It is non-porous, doesn’t leach chemicals or absorb food odors, and goes safely from the freezer to the oven or microwave. However, it is fragile. Plastic is lightweight and shatterproof, but can degrade, stain, and leach chemicals over time.
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Once opened, store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place — you can keep it in the fridge or freezer to prolong the shelf life, but the pantry works totally fine if space is at a premium. Refined flour is unlikely to spoil, but discard if it smells or looks musty or has any signs of mold or bugs.
No, it is not safe or recommended to use 40-year-old Tupperware (from the 1980s) to store food. Older plastics degrade over time, posing significant health risks.
Yes, scientific studies and recent class-action lawsuits indicate that Ziploc-style bags release microplastics and nanoplastics. The breakdown is heavily accelerated by extreme temperatures (freezing or microwaving) and continuous wear.
It's hard to avoid microplastics entirely, but knowing where the highest levels come from can help you limit your exposure.
To quickly tell if a plastic container is freezer-safe, look for a snowflake icon or the word "freezer safe" on the bottom. If it has no label, avoid freezing liquids in it, as standard plastic becomes brittle at low temperatures and the expanding ice can crack it.
4 Stars (****): Maintains temperatures as low as -18°C or colder, suitable for freezing fresh food and long-term storage of frozen food. This is the best option for items that require deep freezing.
Most Tupperware is imprinted with the number five, representing polypropylene, generally a food safe plastic.
“In reality, these Products are made from polyethylene and polypropylene — materials that scientific and medical evidence shows release microplastics when microwaved and frozen — making them fundamentally unfit for microwave and freezer use,” the lawsuit states.
Several common household and commercial items are not recyclable through standard collection programs, despite appearing to be made of recyclable materials. The most frequent offenders include greasy pizza boxes, disposable coffee cups, plastic-coated paper, bubble wrap, and small electronics.
A quality reusable silicone bag might run several times the price of a pack of Ziploc bags. But because they last so long, using silicone bags leads to long term savings. Ziploc bags are cheap initially but add up if you frequently buy replacements. Plus, the environmental costs aren't reflected in the price.
The safest materials to freeze food in are glass, food-grade silicone, and stainless steel. These options are non-toxic, free of harmful chemicals (like BPA, phthalates, and microplastics), and do not leach into food during the freezing or thawing process.
Most foods will freeze well in glass including fruit, vegetables, soups and sauces, baby food, leftovers, biscuits, and vegetable peels and scraps (great for making stock).
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You may have heard of it: Freeze a cup of water solid, set a coin on top of the ice, and put it back in the freezer. The idea is that if your power goes out while you're away and the freezer warms enough for the ice to melt, the coin will drop down into the cup.