One of the best ways to save money on food is the buy perishables on sale and freeze them for later use. This is also the best way to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables all year round.
1. Fruit is pretty easy to freeze. If you are saving it for smoothies, sauces, or baking, simply throw it into a ziplock bag, seal it up, and you are done. Keep in mind that it will defrost mushy and tender. Frozen grapes can be frozen on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and make a great healthy snack. Did you know that nearly brown bananas can actually be frozen in the skin? The skin will turn black but the banana is safely tucked in the peel. Defrosting them will make them perfectly mushy for mixing into bread!
2. Most Vegetables can freeze pretty well. After freezing the texture is usually softened making them perfect for cooking. Stocking up at a farmer's market during the summer and freezing them is a great way to have fresh vegetables year-round.
- Freezer Friendly (chopped to make them recipe ready): tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, onions, green beans, carrots, squash, etc.
- Non-Freezer Friendly (high water content): lettuce, cucumbers, cabbage, etc.
3. Cheese freezes pretty well in the original packaging. When I find a good deal, I stock up and keep it for up to a month in the freezer.
4. Plain Yogurt, Source Cream and Cottage Cheese can also be frozen in the plastic cups they come in.
5. Butter can be frozen in the original packaging. This especially comes in handy during baking season.
6. Pour out the about an inch of Milk from the top of the plastic container. Then put the lid back on and freeze. Just make sure you shake it really well after defrosting.
7. Eggs can be cracked open into ice cub trays and frozen. When ready to use, just pop out what you need and defrost.
8. Fresh Citrus Juice can also be frozen and stored with ice cube trays.
9. Fresh herbs can be, chopped, mixed with olive oils, and poured into ice cube trays so they are ready for cooking.
10. Pasta can be cooked, frozen in freezer bags and conveniently defrosted when needed for quick recipes.
11. Rice can also be cooked ahead of time and frozen.
12. Dried Beans can be rehydrated and cooked, then frozen to add to soups, salads, casseroles, and more.
13. Brown Ground meat in bulk when you find a good deal. Then divide it into quart sized freezer bags to use for tacos, lasagna, and other recipes.
14. Cooked Bacon can be frozen and eaten later or used in recipes.
15. Cook Chicken Breasts in a crock pot, cool, and slice them for create your own version of “Perdue Short Cuts.”
16. Raw Meat can be marinated and frozen in a freezer bag saving marination time later.
17. Freeze Vegetable Peels from carrots, potatoes, onions, etc in a freezer bag. They can be mixed with water, spices, and meat bones to create homemade broth/stock.
18. Homemade Broth and Stock can be frozen in freezer bags or plastic containers to use whenever you need them. Considering that you make stock from cooking scraps, it saves the money you would spend buying canned stock.
19. Whether you buy Bread in the store or make it homemade, wrap it up tight and freeze it for up to two weeks.
20. Make Waffles and Pancakes in bulk on your skillet and freeze them so you can family can have a hot breakfast all week.
21. Cookie Dough can be frozen in a container, rolled and frozen (for easy slicing later), or frozen into scoops,
22. Homemade Rolls and Biscuits can be formed and placed on a parchment covered cookie sheet. After frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag.
23. Fruit Pies can be frozen before or after baking.
24.. Leftover Frosting of the buttercream or cream cheese variety can be frozen for later use.
Also, check out these 45 Pre-Packaged Foods That You Can Make at Home.
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