Saving money doesn’t end at the store. These helpful tips for freezing and thawing will make the most of your food and stretch your dollar further.
Freeze individual bags of bread for quick and easy sandwich assembly when packing lunches for school or work!
Ice cube trays and muffin tins can be used to freeze individual portions of broth or tomato sauce (or paste). Just melt them in a stock pot before adding ingredients when making your favorite recipes!
You can also use muffin tins or ice cube trays to preserve fresh herbs for cooking by freezing in water, oil or melted butter. When you’re ready to cook, just add to the skillet and watch the flavors melt into your dish!
To avoid freezer burn: cool food completely in the refrigerator before adding to the freezer, flatten and release air from freezer bags and make sure your bag or container is tightly sealed!
- Never defrost food at room temperature.
- Use the refrigerator, submerge in cold water or defrost in the microwave depending on how quickly you need to thaw your food.
- You can refreeze food once it has been cooked. However, you should never place an uncooked item back in the freezer after thawing.
TO FREEZE OR NOT TO FREEZE
These foods do not fare as well as others in the freezer.
- Gravies and creamy sauces
- Fruits and vegetables with high water content: celery, cucumbers, lettuce, watermelon, etc.
- Fully cooked pasta
- Dairy products such as yogurt, soft cheeses and sour cream
- Raw and hard-boiled eggs
- Anything carbonated
- Soft herbs like cilantro and basil (can still be frozen in water, oil or butter.)
