What to Freeze & How to Freeze It
The school year is in full swing and the pressure to have everything on hand to make dinner couldn’t be bigger! Investing in a freezer is a great way to save money while guaranteeing access to your favorite foods year round. Here is a list of things you can buy on sale or in bulk and freeze for later use, along with tips on how to freeze them and their general shelf lives.
Freezing Dairy & Eggs
Dairy has a limited shelf life in your fridge, but storing it in your freezer extends that life by months.
Butter: Leave sticks of butter in their original wrapping and place them in a freezer bag. Butter stores well for up to 6 months.
Milk: While the texture of thawed milk might be a little grainy, if you often run out of milk for cooking, baking or smoothies then this is the perfect solution! Rather than freezing an entire gallon jug, pour milk into smaller airtight containers. Milk will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Block cheese: The best way to freeze block cheese is to shred it first, which will prevent it from crumbling when thawed. Adding a teaspoon or cornstarch to coat the shredded cheese will prevent it from clumping. Keeps for 3-6 months.
Cream Cheese: Cream cheese can be stored in a freezer for 3-6 months. Simply place the foil-covered block in an airtight freezer bag.
Eggs: Crack them, place in a freezer bag, and store them for up to 1 year. You can also crack eggs into ice cube trays, freeze, and transfer to a freezer bag for individual use.
Freezing Fruits & Vegetables
Nearly every fruit and vegetable can be frozen for up to 1 year and enjoyed straight out of the freezer or in your favorite recipes later. Chop larger veggies like potatoes and squash into bite sized pieces and place in freezer bags. Here are some more specific tips on freezing fresh produce:
Berries should be washed, thoroughly dried, and placed in airtight containers.
Larger fruits like apples, pineapple and mango should be peeled and sliced before freezing.
Overripe bananas are perfect for freezing and adding to smoothies or banana bread later. Simply peel them, mash or slice, and place in a freezer bag or other airtight container, making a note of how many bananas are in each.
Freeze citrus juice and zest from lemons and limes and never let them go to waste again! For the zest, grate it into ice ube trays, cover with a bit of the juice, and freeze. Pop them into a freezer bag once they are frozen.
Freeze corn by leaving the silk and husks on the cob and placing it directly in the freezer. Pop into boiling water or cook in the microwave for 4-5 minutes for fresh-picked corn taste!
Fresh beans should be snapped or hulled, washed and air dried, then frozen in an airtight container for 4-6 months.
Freezing Herbs
All fresh herbs can be frozen for up to 6 months and still retain their picked-fresh flavor. Simply chop and place in individual freezer bags. Alternately, if you plan on adding them to soups and stews just add the chopped herbs to ice cube trays, cover with water, and freeze before transferring to freezer bags.
Tips for Storing Frozen Food
Prevent freezer burn, odors, and mystery items with these handy tips.
Use only moisture-proof, airtight containers
Squeeze out as much air as possible from freezer bags, but leave some room for expansion when freezing liquids
Label with the contents, date, and estimated expiration date
Don’t overcrowd the freezer – allow air circulation
Never refreeze thawed items