10 Surprising Foods You Can Actually Freeze & Use Every Day
Ah, the good old freezer. It is always there to help us save our leftovers, and keep veggies and meat fresh for months. What would we do without it? In addition, you can use your freezer a lot smarter than you have been doing before. In this article, we will show you ten surprising foods you can actually freeze. Moreover, we will give you some tips and tricks on how to use your freezer smartly. So, if you love tricks that make your life easier, keep on reading:
There are some surprising foods that you can actually freeze and use every day!
Surprising Foods You Can Actually Freeze
#Cheese
You can actually freeze cheese in whole blocks! Just thaw it completely at room temperature before putting it back in the fridge. You can also freeze shredded cheese and put a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour in the bag to prevent lumps from forming when it thaws. If you like fresh Parmesan Reggiano, buy a large block and grate it in a food processor. In a freezer bag, it will last for months! And, you will always have cheese for your favorite recipes waiting for you in the freezer.
You can freeze shredded cheese with a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour in the bag to prevent lumps
In a freezer bag, all of your favorite cheeses will last for months
Here are some tips on how to safely freeze cheese
#Homemade pancakes, waffles, French toast
Make more pancakes and waffles on the weekend and freeze them for a quick and easy weeknight snack. You can put them in a freezer bag and reheat them in the microwave or toaster oven after removing them. If you are a busy person during the week, and you usually don’t have time to make breakfast, use this trick! Just make a bigger batch of your favorite pancakes, and keep them in the freezer. Every morning, you will have a delicious breakfast waiting for you there!
You can put pancakes and waffles in a freezer bag and reheat them whenever you want
The perfect freezer hack for a busy person who loves warm pancakes for breakfast
#Fruits
When freezing fruits, it is a good idea to freeze them on a paper-lined tray first and then transfer it to a freezer bag. This way, the fruit won’t stick together, making it easier to pull out a smaller amount if needed. This is a great tip to use during the summer when fruits are most delicious and abundant. Just freeze them, and you will have the perfect ingredient for smoothies all winter long.
When freezing fruits, it is a good idea to freeze them on a paper-lined tray first
Then transfer the fruits to a zip lock bag and put them back in the freezer
Or, you can add fruits to ice trays, and use them for cocktail recipes
#Vegetables and Herbs
Dice onions, chilies, or peppers, then freeze them in freezer bags. Roast Roma tomatoes in the oven on low (110 degrees) with garlic, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil for 4 to 5 hours. When cool, transfer the tomatoes to freezer bags. Use them to make tomato sauces. Freeze fresh herbs in ice cube trays with a little water or leftover broth. Use frozen herb cubes in soups, stews, or casseroles later in the year. To freeze leafy greens like spinach, blend them in a blender with a little water and then freeze them in ice cube trays. This will make meal prep for the week a dream!
Freezing your veggies and herbs is a great way to preserve them and use them longer
You can cut herbs finely and store them in an ice tray
Pour some oil on them, and you have the perfect soup starter
You can also meal prep different soup mixes in the freezer
Here are some vegetables and their blanching times
#Rice
Cook a large batch of rice, spread it on a paper-lined tray, and freeze. When the rice is frozen, transfer it to an envelope or a zip lock. This hack comes in handy when you cook a bigger batch of rice!
If you cook a large batch of rice, just spread it on a paper-lined tray, and freeze it
Then just store it in a zip lock back for when you need it
#Bread
If you have leftover bread, and you are worried about it going bad, just freeze it. Then warm it in the oven. You can even add herbs, spices, garlic, and tomatoes to make the most delicious Italian-inspired baked bread! Also, make sure you store your bread correctly to keep it fresh the longest!
If you have leftover bread, and you are worried about it going bad, just freeze it
Here are some valuable tips and tricks for freezing bread
#Pasta
Whenever you make a lot of pasta and have leftovers, don’t throw it away! Instead, freeze the leftover pasta to add to soups and other dishes. Just add the cooked pasta to zip-lock bags, and leave them in the freezer until you need some!
Don’t ever throw away your pasta leftovers when you can freeze them
Use zip-lock bags to store the pasta and make sure to add the date
#Flour
You can store flour in the freezer to make it last longer. Flour is actually one of the most long-lasting foods that actually spoil easily if not stored correctly.
It is super easy to store flour in the freezer, so it can last longer
#Sauces, broths, and juice
You can actually freeze sauces in ice cube trays. Once frozen, just remove the cubes and place them in a freezer bag. This is especially good for when you are cooking soups or making smoothies!
Make your favorite tomato sauce, and store it in the freezer for easy meal prep
Ice cubes from leftover juices and smoothies are perfect for freezing
#Mashed potatoes
Using an ice cream scoop, place even portions of mashed potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until set, then transfer to a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for at least 2 months. This is a great hack if you have kids who love mashed potatoes and want to have them every day!
You can actually freeze mashed potatoes and put them in zip-lock bags
These were all of the surprising foods you can actually freeze! In addition, the hacks and tips we shared will definitely help you in your everyday life and meal prepping.
Now you know how to freeze foods and use them for meal prep like a professional!
Related Articles
- 11 Common Foods You Should NEVER Put in a Freezer
- How To Defrost Chicken Safely: 3 Quick And Easy Ways
- 7 Foods You Should NEVER Put In The Refrigerator
- 10 Unexpected Foods You Should NEVER Store In Your Pantry
Sources
