What creates the “burnt” taste when food gets freezer burnt?
In: Chemistry
Freezer burn happens when food isn’t wrapped up properly in the freezer. Extremely cold air on naked food causes it to begin to dry out and oxidise.
The oxidisation is what produces the main bits of the taste change. Oxidisation is a bit complex for ELI5, but think of it this way; a given piece of food has a fixed chemical makeup unique to that food. Oxidisation is when oxygen from the air is absorbed into the food over time. This changes it’s chemical makeup; molecules and compounds change shape, and behave differently because of the new oxygen.
If you’ve ever cut an apple open and watched it start to turn brown; that’s caused by oxidation. Apple flesh oxidises very, very quickly once exposed.
The food is also drying out from exposure to cold air, and sucking all the water out doesn’t help at all.
You’re left with a piece of food that’s missing it’s water and has had a bunch of extra oxygen added to it. This changes the taste – often significantly.
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