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    10 surprising foods you can freeze

    Freeze food for freshness

    Fed up with food waste? Freezing it could just be the answer. While not all food will freeze well, there are probably a few you’ve not thought of that are just as tasty when they’ve been frozen. We’ve put together a list of ideal food for freezing – and some of them might just surprise you. And we’ve topped it all off with some handy hints on the best way to keep everything fresher for longer and things to avoid.

    Not only does freezing food extend its shelf life, but there are even more benefits you may not have considered. For a start, it locks in the nutrients and slows the growth of bacteria that can make it go out of date quicker. So, if you’re not going to get to use it in time, sticking it in the freezer saves you throwing it away. Reducing food waste is another plus. Freezing fruits, veg, and leftovers helps you make the most of everything you buy. All you need to do is make sure it’s suitable for freezing, tub it up properly, and label it so you don’t forget what’s what.

    10 freezable foods 

    Avocados

    If you’ve got a ripe avocado that you just don’t think you’ll finish before it goes bad, slice it in half, remove the pit, and pop in an airtight container to freeze it. Frozen avocados are great for guac or sticking in a smoothie.

    Buttermilk

    Who uses the whole carton of buttermilk in one go? Stop it from spoiling by freezing it for another day. Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze until it’s solid, then you can save space (and free up the tray) by emptying it into a freezable bag. This way, it’s really easy to add to recipes like pancakes or biscuits – that’ll give them a tangy kick.

    Cooked pasta

    That’s right. Whether you’re partial to penne, love linguine, or simply savour spaghetti, freezing it for later can make weekday meals quicker than ever. All you need to do is boil it until it’s al dente, rinse with cold water so it doesn’t continue to cook, toss in some oil, and pop it in a freezer-safe tub.

    Hard cheese

    Think gouda, cheddar, parmesan; all of them can be frozen to make them last longer. If you only use a sprinkle on your lasagne every now and then, grate or slice it before freezing so you can portion it up to suit how you use it. Talk about pinchable portions.

    Bread

    Freeze a whole loaf or just a couple of slices to stop it going stale. Then all you need to do is take out as much as you need to thaw for a sandwich or pop them straight in the toaster for your breakfast. 

    Eggs

    Crack any eggs you want to freeze into a bowl, whisk them up, and pour into ice cube trays. When they’re completely frozen, empty them into a freezer bag. This saves space as well as making it really easy to add them to baking mixtures and recipes next time you’re cooking up something tasty.

    Milk

    Got too much milk? You can either freeze the whole bottle or pour it into smaller containers. Just make sure you leave a bit of room for expansion before freezing. Then you can thaw it in the fridge, give it a good shake, and pour it straight onto your cereal.

    Fresh Herbs

    Chop up fresh herbs, add some olive oil, and freeze them in ice cube trays. Decant them into a freezer bag to save space and then you have nice, small portions that can easily be added to soups, stews, and sauces – anything you like, really. 

    Nuts

    As nuts have a high fat content, they can go off quickly so it’s a great idea to freeze them once the packet’s been opened. Freeze them in an airtight container to keep them fresh for longer.

    Wine

    Struggling to get to the bottom of the bottle? Freeze it in an ice cube tray and it’ll make the perfect addition to stews or sauces. That’ll save you opening another when you’re making a beef ragu.

    Properly freezing your food

    It’s not always as simple as just sticking food in the freezer, there are a few things you can do to get the best out of every person. Here are some top tips that’ll help: 

    Choose the right containers 

    When picking up tubs and freezer bags, choose options that are specially designed to be frozen and defrosted. Airtight tubs made from BPA-free plastic are ideal for maintaining the taste, texture, and nutrients of your fresh food.  

    Label it up

    Save yourself some culinary mishaps by labelling and dating everything you put in the freezer. That way, you’ll know what you’re getting out and how long it’s been in there. Although frozen food lasts longer, it doesn’t last forever so keep an eye on the dates too.

    Perfect portions

    Think about how you want to divide your food up. If you often use a sprig of rosemary rather than a whole bunch, popping it into smaller containers or ice cube trays can give you the flexibility to add as much or as little as you need when it’s time to get cooking.

    Flash freezing

    For small foods like berries, spread them out on a baking tray and freeze them first. When they’re fully frozen, pop them in a freezer bag. This stops them from clumping together, so you can garnish your dessert with a couple of raspberries without defrosting the whole bag.  

    Common freezing mistakes to avoid

    Keep your food fresher for longer by dodging these common freezing mishaps:

    Freezer overload

    Freezing fresh food is a great solution to reduce food waste, but be careful not to pack too much in. Your freezer works better when there’s space for air to flow, so cramming tons of tubs in can make things freeze unevenly or even give the food chance to go off before it’s frozen.

    Airtight containers are a must 

    Using any old container can spoil your frozen food if they’re not airtight. Locking in the air prevents freezer burn, locks in nutrients, and stops any flavour transfer.

    Freeze the right food

    Some foods aren’t suitable for freezing, check that it freezes well beforehand. Lettuce, cucumbers, and uncracked eggs are a few ingredients to avoid freezing as the texture can change or it can lose its flavour.

    Make the most of your space

    Having an organised freezer can make all the difference. It’ll help you find what you’re looking for faster and also maximise the space you’ve got. Here are some ideas to help you get things organised: 

    Create some categories

    Group together similar foods so all your veggies, meats, and leftovers are together – you could even give each their own drawer or shelf. That means when you go in search of broccoli, you won’t have to guess where the greens are. 

    Space-saving freezer bags

    Popping your food in high-quality freezer bags can save a bit of space, prevent freezer burn, and keep food fresher for longer. They should be completely airtight and durable, so they don’t tear when you’re moving things around. Remember to label everything up – you don’t want to play potluck every time you make a new dish. 

    Stackable, practical containers

    Pick freezer-safe containers that fit well in the drawers. Stackable sets can make the most of the room you have as well as keeping things in place when you open the drawer.  

    Use the headroom too

    Make use of any vertical space with freezer baskets or organisers. They let you stack your tubs without anything toppling over. Shelf dividers can also help you create dedicated space for different categories – for example, you could put meat on the left, fish on the right. 

    Smaller spaces

    If you’ve got a small freezer, you can still get lots out of the space you’ve got by following these tips and tricks: 

    Freeze food flat 

    Anything you can flatten before freezing will help you maximise the space you have; things like sauces, fruits, and veg can often be squashed down to make more room for other food.

    Bin the bulk

    Some foods come with excessive packaging, so take it out of the plastic it came in and pop it in your own container or freezer bag to cut down on unnecessary space being removed.

    Good rotations

    Move your frozen food around so you use older food first. That means nothing will go to waste and it’ll help you make room for more new food.

    Now you’ve got all the tips and tricks to efficiently freeze and store fresh food to save it going bad, you can stock up on your favourite ingredients and prep your next big banquet.