Freezing vegetables effectively preserves them at the peak of freshness, provided it's done properly. If vegetables are not properly prepared before freezing, then you might as well skip it altogether. I know what you're thinking.
freezing blueberries I grew up in a household where the only things in our freezer were ice cream, ice cubes, popsicles and (possibly) some frozen fruit, corn and/or peas. I was taught that frozen foods did not taste good and, therefore, not worth storing. I have certainly learned differently. I now have 3 freezers and boy do I make them work for me! Garden & fruit tree surplus, leftovers from dinner, freshly made stock & sauces, etc. all find their way into the freezer. While there are definitely things that don't taste great after having been frozen (either the flavor or texture changes), there are a lot of foods that are just fine to freeze. Whether you are freezing them for longer storage or because they are getting too ripe and you don't want waste, stocking your freezer with delicious goodies is not only budget-friendly, but can be a great source of ready-to-make meal ingredients. Most frozen foods are best used within 3-4 months. That being said, it depends in many cases on the food and/or how you plan to use it. Overripe bananas, as an example, can be frozen for longer because you'll be adding them to a muffin, cake or bread recipe or used in a smoothie. The banana itself isn't the primary ingredient. Frozen cooked pasta, on the other hand, can start to take on the freezer taste and/or begin breaking down if left in the freezer longer than 3 months. freezing bell peppers Here are 39 things that freeze well: Butter (sticks) Milk (leave headspace in the container) Shredded Cheese Onions/Peppers/Carrots (can be frozen raw & flash-frozen on a baking sheet then transferred to bag/container) *double bag onions to avoid having your entire freezer smelling like onion* Grapes (delicious eaten right from the freezer!!) Berries (can be frozen raw & flash-frozen on a baking sheet then transferred to bag/container) *will get mushy, use for smoothies, baking, oatmeal addition, etc.* Applesauce Pesto Sauce (freeze in ice cube trays & transfer frozen cubes to container for use in sauces) Cookies Cookie Dough Muffins/Quick Bread Cake Bread Waffles (re-heat frozen waffle in toaster) Pancakes (re-heat frozen pancake in toaster, toaster oven or microwave) Granola Pie Crust Cooked Rice or Millet (I freeze portioned in individual serving sizes) Cooked Beans Tortilla Shells Broth/Stock Cooked Pasta (undercooked) (will soften so should be used in a dish with sauce) Raw Meat Bacon Bits Marinara Sauce Tomato Paste (I freeze on a cookie sheet in teaspoon-sized mounds & then transfer to container once frozen) Citrus Juice/Zest (for used in dishes - can get a bit slimy) (freeze in ice cube tray & transfer frozen cubes to container) Garlic (& Roasted Garlic) (best results if frozen in a small amount of oil) Winter Squash Corn Peas Apple Pie Filling Yeast Flour Nuts & Seeds Bread Crumbs Wine (freeze in ice cube trays & transfer frozen cubes to container for use in sauces) freezer meals Packaging: You are going to have the best luck with foods that are properly packaged. I have written a 3-series post on freezer cooking here: part 1, part 2, and part 3. Selecting freezer-safe containers or bags, and pressing out every ounce of air if using a freezer bag will help your food last longer and taste better. Double wrapping baked goods is also a good idea. And label & date EVERYTHING. You will not remember when it went into the freezer and it may be very difficult to figure out what it actually is once it's frozen and shoved to the back of the freezer. This is in no way an exhaustive list. I'm sure there are plenty of other ingredients you can freeze. It's all trial and error to figure out what's best for your family. Happy freezing! What other foods would you add to this list?
Freezing produce for smoothies isn't hard at all, you just need some simple equipment and these easy, no-fail instructions. Click here now for the complete guide from top lifestyle blogger, Design Mom!
Um, brilliant. Get the how-to (plus a recipe for this creamy chicken and gnocchi soup) here.
Freezing rain and the last of the season's flowers come together for a truly interesting visual - captured with my Galaxy S5
Your freezer is a valuable tool when it comes to storing foods. Check out this list of 20 foods you can freeze to save yourself time and money!
How to freeze food to keep it fresh the longest, how to thaw foods safely and what foods are NOT freezer friendly!
Download this free photo of Winter Ice Frozen from Pixabay's vast library of royalty-free stock images, videos and music.
The stunning images were taken at Abraham Lake, located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Canada.
Knowing how to freeze food means you can pretty much double your efficiency by doubling many of your fave recipes. Here are 30 dos and don'ts to follow!
On occasion, we luck into a case of garlic at fire sale prices at a fruit stand. If the cloves are full and healthy, we buy it and run. However, there is no reasonable way to use an entire case of garlic in regular cooking without losing some to spoilage. We opt to freeze a […]
I wish I had thought of half of these! Number 33 surprised me, it would save so much time and money especially with baking. I need this list the next time I hit the grocery store or farmers market. Plus think of all the money you could save buying these foods on sale and freezing them for later.
This little kitchen helper is about to change your cooking game
If you let food get freezer burned, you're wasting money. Reduce your food waste and save money by learning how to freeze food and prevent freezer burn!
Save Time and Money By Freezing Food! Preparing food ahead of time can be a great way to save money and help you out when you’re in a pinch. We’ve all been there before where we forgot to take something out in time for dinner, and having a freezer meal on hand can be a
Did you know that you can blow up soap bubbles and instantly freeze them into ice orbs? If you’re searching for a fun cold-weather activity, this is worth trying out. Popular Science explains the science behind bubble freeze, in addition to instructions on how to make one. There’s some interesting science at play here. Every […]
Learn How to Freeze Produce, Tips for Freezing Fruits and Vegetables. Buying produce in season and stocking up is a great way to get the best prices.
I have been trying to freeze more foods lately. It saves money, I am not wasting food because the leftovers are not getting eaten, and it actually will preserve the food’s freshness. I realized I had a lot to learn when it came to freezing foods. There are so many things that can be frozen […]
Freezing foods are a great way to prolong the life and freshness of certain foods. Here are 11 surprising things that are worth putting in your freezer.
I hate having food waste. Yet, it seems to happen in this house more than I'd like it to. Things get forgotten in the back of the fridge, and before I know it, the food I pull out to use isn't looking so hot. (I mean, not that it should be hot, since it IS
Easy and quick way how to freeze fresh tomatoes!
Use this master list of foods you can and cannot freeze to preserve all your ingredients with confidence. Now you know what gets mushy and what stays fresh!
How to freeze oranges for smoothies plus two amazing orange smoothie recipes. Stay healthy with these easy tips and recipes!
Freezing foods are a great way to prolong the life and freshness of certain foods. Here are 11 surprising things that are worth putting in your freezer.
Your freezer is a valuable tool when it comes to storing foods. Check out this list of 20 foods you can freeze to save yourself time and money!
Do you have cabbage in your garden you need to preserve? Instead of trying to cook it all now, learn how to freeze fresh cabbage heads. It's easy!
What is the difference between freeze drying and dehydrating? I'll answer that question and share 6 freeze drying tips for beginners.
I am so excited to show you how to freeze lemon slices. The best way to freeze them is easy to do follow these steps...
You should wash the lemons well, and then place them in the freezer, or to accelerate the process, you can initially slice it into small…
It's easy to preserve summer fruit in the freezer. Check out this post for easy step-by-step instructions for freezing peaches, strawberries, blueberries or nectarines with NO sugar needed!
Understanding ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed is a photography tutorial on understand the technicalities of iso aperture and shutter speed.
The answer is YES! But, it's not just set the whole egg carton in the freezer and you're done. You should not freeze them with shells on. They should also not be past the expiration
This little kitchen helper is about to change your cooking game
Learn about 10 vegetables you didn't know you could freeze. How to freeze vegetables, and what to do with them after they've been thawed.
There was this one day when I saw that I could order 20 pounds of broccoli for just $12.50 and we all know how much I love good deals on good produce. Then there was that other day I picked up my order and found that 20 pounds of broccoli filled a box big enough […]
Don't waste another drop of dairy. We'll walk you through our best tips for how to freeze milk.
Recently, I've made some really positive changes to my diet. I am eating lots of vegetables each day, which means I'm buying lots of vegetables, too...and I'm making a huge effort to make sure I actually eat them all and don't throw any away. This means I need to make sure I store my veggies properly, and with Earth Day taking place this month, I'm extra aware of my food storage practices (I feel actual guilt when I throw away food...and if that's not bad enough, think of the ALL THE WASTE that comes from tossing old food in the
You've harvested your turnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, rutabagas, and parsnips from your garden, now you've only got one problem. How to
Are you looking for recipes to preserve food by freezing? Here are 13 foods that you can freeze to have on hand whenever you need them!
Use this master list of foods you can and cannot freeze to preserve all your ingredients with confidence. Now you know what gets mushy and what stays fresh!
I have been trying to freeze more foods lately. It saves money, I am not wasting food because the leftovers are not getting eaten, and it actually will preserve the food’s freshness. I realized I had a lot to learn when it came to freezing foods. There are so many things that can be frozen […]
