Most people expect their freezer to keep their food fresh and safe from spoilage for months. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as over time, a funky smell tends to develop in most freezers. But where does this smell come from, and how can the problem be fixed?
The Freezer Smell Has Its Origins
Microbes like bacteria, yeasts, and mold are typically responsible for causing bad smells in freezers, which can occur when the temperature rises due to power outages. Hot food being put straight into the freezer, or from food spills and open containers, provides an opportunity for the microbes to thrive. While some of these microbes may survive freezing and produce pungent chemicals and volatile organic compounds, which are the pleasant aromas we experience when we eat, it is important to note that uncontrolled food spoilage caused by contaminating microbes can be problematic, especially when they can cause disease.
Freezer Smell Can Be Eliminated
The freezing process can lead to undesirable odors not only due to microbial growth but also because it causes physical changes to food that often enhance their breakdown. This results in phenomena such as freezer burn and ice crystals caused by salt rejection – a process where, depending on the speed of freezing, salts can become concentrated as pure water freezes at a higher temperature than water with things dissolved in it. These include sugars and salts, and the phenomenon is also observed in the formation of icebergs.
During the freezing process, organic molecules in food become concentrated and expelled, and if they are volatile, they can move around the freezer and stick to other surfaces depending on their hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties. Hydrophilic volatiles also contributes to unpleasant taste as they stick to surfaces like silicone ice cube trays and also cause bad odors. Additionally, as domestic freezers are typically attached to refrigerators and share a single cooling source and airflow channel, odors from foul-smelling food in the fridge can migrate to the freezer, compounding the problem.
To prevent and eliminate bad smells in the freezer, the food should be covered in an airtight container to slow the release of aromatic compounds and prevent the absorption of other smells. The spoiled or freezer-burned food should be discarded, and the fridge should be inspected for bad-smelling items, which should be discarded. All items should be removed from the freezer, and then the surfaces should be wiped down with warm soapy water or a baking soda solution after taking out the shelves. Any spills and crumbs should be cleaned regularly. If the smells persist even after all these efforts, baking soda can be placed inside the freezer, or a deep clean should be considered.
Elizabeth Banks Didn’t Like How the 2019 Charlie’s Angels Was Marketed
The now-beloved Charlie’s Angels began as a series in the ’70s, with its first movie produced in 2000. The most recent reboot happened in 2019 — produced and written by Elizabeth Banks. Recently, Banks opened up about how she wishes the movie wasn’t marketed as just for girls and the difficulties of being a female producer in Hollywood.
The Charlie’s Angels Reboot Didn’t Do Well
Charlie’s Angels (2019) followed the story of a team of secret agents unraveling an international conspiracy to turn an energy conservation device into a weapon, as tasked by their mysterious boss. Cast in the role of our three protagonists were Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska, and Naomi Scott. Banks wrote, produced, and also starred in the movie, so it was certainly a labor of love and a lot of invested time and effort by the talented actress and all those involved.
Banks Was Unhappy With the Marketing Disconnect
Unfortunately, the movie didn’t quite achieve success at the box office. When asked about it in an interview, Banks revealed her dissatisfaction with the way the movie was marketed as it didn’t align with her vision. In her opinion, it was promoted mainly to the female audience whereas it was her goal to create an action movie that everyone could enjoy. Banks explained that it can be difficult for a female producer and writer to do things in Hollywood and that she was only able to make an action movie because it starred female characters.
The Producer Is Proud of the Film
In addition to saying that she wishes that Charlie’s Angels wasn’t marketed as just for girls, she reiterates that she’s proud of the movie and everyone’s performance in it. The actress and producer expressed her joy at being able to introduce Ella Belinska to the world, to see Kristen Stewart in a light and funny role, and how much she loved working with the iconic Sir Patrick Stewart.