The freezer can help food last longer, but some kitchen staples may be better off stored elsewhere.Some foods can lose their texture, flavor or overall quality after being frozen and thawed, according to a recent list from food and cooking publication Food & Wine.New Jersey-based Chef Dennis Littley, a culinary educator and founder of Ask Chef Dennis, told Fox News Digital that freezing can change a food's texture because the water inside turns into ice crystals.SCIENTISTS SAY YOU'VE BEEN THROWING AWAY PERFECTLY GOOD MEAT BECAUSE OF ONE COMMON MISTAKE"The biggest thing I tell home cooks is that being able to freeze something doesn't necessarily mean you should," Littley said.Here are four foods that may be better stored somewhere other than the freezer.While most cheeses can technically be frozen, Littley said doing so can leave them crumbly or grainy once thawed.Experts say people should understand that while many foods can be frozen, the process can alter their texture as water inside turns into ice crystals.(iStock)The change can be particularly noticeable with softer and creamier cheeses.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERInstead, Littley recommends keeping cheese well wrapped in the refrigerator and buying only as much as you expect to use while it is still fresh.Whether cooked pasta belongs in the freezer can depend on the dish."Pasta can soften as it freezes and thaws, and creamy sauces can separate," Littley said.While cooked pasta can be stored in the freezer, experts say it may soften after thawing and creamy sauces can separate.
(iStock)For pasta dishes with creamy sauces, he recommends refrigerating leftovers and eating them within a few days rather than freezing them.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZHeartier baked pasta dishes, however, can hold up better in the freezer, according to Littley.Prosciutto, salami and other cured meats can generally be frozen, but Littley said the bigger concern is what happens to their textur...