Fat-free and frozen?

Dear Heloise: If I freeze a quart of fat-free milk, will it taste the same when it thaws?— B.J., via email

Let me start by stating that I have been known to freeze skim milk before, and I have not had a problem. Some foods will have texture changes or slight taste changes after freezing. Milk producers don’t recommend freezing milk because temperature changes may affect the consistency, but many people do. Try it for yourself and see if you are happy with the taste and texture of the milk after you have thawed it in the refrigerator.

Most any food can be frozen (with the exception of eggs in the shell and canned items. You can freeze items once removed from the can). However, personal preference will determine whether you are happy with the defrosted product AFTER freezing.—Heloise

HEALTHIER CHOICES Dear Readers: Many of us are trying to make better, healthier food choices, especially when eating away from home. Here are some hints to try the next time you eat out:

Ask for salad dressings, gravies and sauces to be served on the side.

Substitute whole black beans for refried, and corn tortillas for flour.

Do not order fried food. Select foods that are steamed, broiled or grilled.

Instead of potato side dishes, ask for extra vegetables.

When ordering pasta, choose red sauces. White sauces are made with cream and butter, which equals calories and fat.

With these small changes, you can be satisfied but healthier.—Heloise

MIXING MEAT

Dear Heloise: I can’t stand how cold my hands become when working with chopped meat. I discovered that if I put the meat in a zipper-top plastic bag, add all the ingredients and knead the bag to mix, I can mold the meat into a loaf and roll it out onto a sheet pan. I never have to touch the meat!

For meatballs, I put the bag in the refrigerator for an hour and then use a small ice-cream scoop to form the meatballs.— Susan, via email

VACUUM PUMP

Dear Heloise: I discovered that my vacuum pump for sealing food in plastic bags had quit working. I turned on the hot water and let it run for a few minutes. Then I held the bottom seal of the pump under the water for about 30 seconds, turned it upside down and filled it with water for a few more seconds. I shook off the water and tried it out. It worked fantastic!—Ron W., Lakeland, Fla.

FRIED FOOD

Dear Heloise: Contrary to most directions, I never drain fried foods on paper towels. The bottom ends up soggy or has bits of paper towel stuck to it. I always use some kind of rack over newspaper. The greasy rack cleans easily in the dishwasher.—Russell, via email