If it has been a while since you had to clean up your freezer, you may have never had to deal with a smelly freezer full of rotting meat before.
It can be quite unpleasant to say the least. Not only will rotten meat smell bad, but it can cause toxic poisoning.
That’s why we typically wrap rotting meat in plastic and store it in the freezer.
Dangers of the Rotten Meat In the Freezer
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People often boil ruined meat anyhow, believing it will get rid of the bacteria and viruses.
Unfortunately, bacteria can become resistant to this treatment, and boiling water can even encourage the production of more bacteria.
However, germs in rotting meat and other bad foods often pose serious problems for your health.
Healthy people may sometimes, and mistakenly, think that rotten meat is similar to other unsafe foods. However, this is not the case. Roten meat is very toxic, and ingesting it can make you very sick.
However, most of the time, the rotten meat doesn’t cause such a serious illness.
These foods contain germs that may cause disease. They can also cause serious trouble to persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, infants, and the elderly.
How To Dispose Of Freezer Full Of Rotten Meat
If the food has gone bad because your freezer is busted, then you’ll need a professional to help you dispose of it.
You can’t, however, simply throw your freezer out with the trash.
The portions of a freezer that may pose a health risk include raw poultry, processed meat, and seafood.
That is why you need enlist the help of a professional company to clean your freezer to dispose of any toxic materials. You will also need to call your local waste disposal company to dispose of the freezer.
To find out whether your freezer may safely be recycled, seek the guidance from a local recycling center or manufacturer.
You might also try repairing it yourself, but it’s always a good idea to contact a professional.
However, make sure the freezer is in good working order and in good repair before you throw it out.
How to Dispose of Rotten Meat
If you have a carton of milk that has expired, throw it away.
This is much simpler compared to trying to dispose of rotting meat. Rotting meat is not, by any means, something you want to mess around with.
When you have a freezer full of decaying meat that has turned black, mushy or odorous, it’s time to get rid of it.
It’s wise to check the expiration dates of all of your frozen meat whenever it goes on sale.
If it doesn’t expire for several months, and you’re not going to eat it or freeze it, you should throw it out right away.
So, here’s what you , as an owner of meat products, should do.
Disposing of the Bags
Don’t leave the meat in the trash bags and you need to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
If you don’t remove the trash bags, it will smell much worse.
Remove it as soon as you are done eating so the smell does not linger around your house.
If the container is not sealed tightly, insects can get into the bag and infest the meat.
Flies, mosquitoes, and other insects will be attracted to the odorous meat and head straight for the porch or garbage bin.
If you don’t have a bin and are just setting the bags wherever you put them, make sure they’re not underneath anything that could leak, such as a refrigerator or a radiator.
Use the Right Tools
It’s time for the difficult part: disposal. When you’re done, you’re probably covered in more blood and tissue than you were in the slaughterhouse. You may want to take a shower to feel clean.
If you don’t feel comfortable moving it around, throw it away.
Get a huge tray to keep all the rotten meat, fat, and anything else contaminated in it.
Now you can dump all the trash onto a compost pile. Work with all your strength and enthusiasm, because time passes quickly.
Make sure no decaying food goes into your compost pile.
If they do, you’ll risk contaminating the trash can and possibly spreading it to the whole building.
Once you’re done with the tongs, gloves, and tray, throw everything in the trashcan.
Ensure Protection
You must ensure that you are well shielded from your uniform clothing as well.
With this in mind, you should try wearing a surgical mask. This will help protect you from the mucus, bacteria, and particles that come out of the meat.
If you wear the dirtiest clothing, you will be even more exposed, so keep that in mind when choosing your outfit.
As a result, put on latex gloves and use them to protect your hands from infection.
Put on your mask, and put the flesh in the infected area away from the vegetables. Bacteria will ooze out of the meat, contaminating your vegetables.
So that you’re fully protected, choose gloves with powdered latex, followed by latex liquid.
Don’t just dip into the liquid and put it on your hands.
Instead, pour on the powder, rub it around with your hands so that the molecules of powder are absorbed by the latex, and then mix it with the latex liquid in a spray bottle.
You can also use latex spray. Wear your gloves as you work so that your hands will be protected.
If there is any part of your body that touches the meat, be sure to wash it thoroughly so that no harmful bacteria will spread through the skin.
How to Clean and Disinfect Freezer
If your freezer stopped operating because of a power outage or because you forgot to switch it back on before departing on vacation, don’t attempt to restore its cooling function by air cooling.
Remove the Bad Odors
You could detect a hint of that cold, musty smell every time you open the freezer door. You do not want your family members to share the same experience.
This may contaminate your other meals and spread throughout your home, making it hard to consume anything without gagging. It is necessary to get rid of the foul smell as well.
As a result, you’ll have food fresh enough to refrigerate without the fear of getting sick.
Coffee grounds, baking soda, vanilla essence, charcoal, vinegar, oats, and lemon slices are some of the goods you may use.
Simply fill a bowl with any of these ingredients, wrap it up, and place it in the freezer.
The foul odor should be gone after two or three days, as long as you’ve managed to replace it with some pleasant scent.
Sanitizing the Freezer
It may seem that cleaning the freezer is easy, but it is best to schedule a professional cleaning service to get the job done right.
However, certain germs or viruses may not be able to be bleached away.
Furthermore, if your freezer has any hard-to-reach areas, make sure to clean them with a separate disinfectant.
That is why you must also disinfect the freezer’s exterior surfaces.
A disinfectant should be used for wiping down the freezer’s handles and door. Keep your family healthy by sanitizing your freezer regularly.
Bleach is one of the only widely available products that can kill pathogens and bacteria.
In a gallon of warm water, add one tablespoon of bleach.
Cover the freezer with this mixture so that it has time to penetrate the surfaces. Use a sponge or clean rag to clean the freezer’s inside walls, freezer door seals, and grates.
Use a microfiber cloth to clean the freezer’s exterior surfaces. Make sure to remove all food residue with a microfiber cloth.
Wipe off all of unwanted food particles and leftover ice with a damp, absorbent sponge. You can also use a spray bottle to spray the inside of the freezer with a disinfectant solution.
Because bleach may be harmful t o the skin, always wear gloves while using it.
Cleaning the Freezer
Start by removing the racks, shelves, and other components that may be securely removed from the freezer to begin the process of cleaning it.
To make a soapy mixture, fill a bowl with water and add some liquid dish soap to it.
A cotton towel can also be used to clean the freezer. Soak the towel in the mixture and run it along the freezer’s exterior to clean it.
Use the soapy mixture on the towel to clean the freezer’s interior. Rinse the towel and wipe the interior of the freezer thoroughly to remove all the soap residue.
Clean the freezer components carefully.
Wipe the freezer’s interior with a dry towel. Then, put it back together.
Ensure that all remnants of decaying food have been removed.
After that, give these freezer components a rinse with clean water.
Apply a disinfectant solution and let it sit on the surface for a few minutes before rinsing it off and allowing it to dry.
Clean the interior of the freezer using the soft cotton towel, wiping off any soapy residue as you go.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to get rid of freezers full of rotten meat, especially if it’s been in there a while.
The smell is nearly impossible to ignore, so it may take several days to find an alternative place for the freezer to go.
All freezers have a cool-down period, so it may be best to wait until the odor begins to diminish somewhat before you try to get rid of it.
Keep the door open to allow any decaying gases to escape.
However, given how dangerous rotting meat may be to your health and the health of those exposed to it, you should proceed with caution.
Hopefully, now that you know how to dispose a freezer full of rotten meat, you won’t have to do it again for a very long time.
