Decaying food is the major cause for freezer odors as bacteria multiply and spread fast even if they come into contact with a tiny piece of contaminated food. Sorting and storing frozen food meticulously in tightly sealed covers or containers ensures that food does leak or drip. Bacteria and mold can also thrive if there is a malfunction in the freezer, and they multiply even after the issue is fixed and the freezer is working again. Here are some tips to freeze food the right way and banish freezer odors:

• Pick the right containers
  While zip lock and plastic covers are ideal for storing food in the fridge, they might not be suitable for the freezer, especially for refrigerators that require manual defrosting. Buy good-quality, microwave-friendly shallow boxes and containers so that you can use them in a microwave to heat or thaw food. A helpful tip is to use freezer bags to store food instead of containers to banish odors. You can remove the air from the bags, seal them with a sealing kit, and store the food safely to avoid contamination and bad odors.
• Double-wrap frozen meat
  Wrap meat in freezer paper, and then seal and wrap it in aluminum foil. This also ensures that the meat takes a long time to thaw in case of a power outage or if the freezer malfunctions, preventing freezer odors effectively.
• Bread and baked food
  Baked food should be cooled completely before being wrapped and sealed with freezer paper. If moisture reaches inside, it can cause the food to rot, so ensure that the wrap has no gaps to prevent freezer burn, which could otherwise lead to a foul odor.
• Slice fruits and vegetables
  If you want to freeze seasonal fruits and vegetables, cut and place them in a plastic cover or container before putting them into the freezer. The smell of rotten fruit and leftovers can spread fast, so ensure that the cover is tightly packed to prevent rotting. Another helpful tip to prevent and banish freezer odors is to not combine multiple fruits and vegetables.
• Identify the odor source
  Undertaking a thorough cleaning is an effective tip to banish freezer odors that might arise despite all precautions. Unplug the freezer, remove all the contents, and identify the contaminated or spoiled food and discard it. If the odor is coming from the freezer itself, you also have to defrost the freezer and clean it thoroughly before restocking.

A complete cleaning could take time, as you have to wait for the ice to thaw in case of a manual frosting refrigerator. However, if you ignore or postpone this chore, the odor will spread to all parts of the freezer, including the gaskets, walls, and the insulation. If the odor enters the insulation of the fridge, getting rid of it requires the services of a qualified technician. Additionally, the odor might linger for a few more days after cleaning the freezer, and this is when using natural odor eliminators and deodorizers like freshly ground coffee and vanilla are effective tips to banish freezer odors.