Have you ever gone to the grocery store only to pass up on a deal because you weren’t sure you could store the item before it spoiled? If so, you’re not alone. Quite a few people do. A lot of those items you’re passing up on though are deals you should be grabbing then taking home to your freezer! Don’t think so? You may just be surprised at how many foods you can freeze – and how much money not knowing has cost you!
It may not seem as if it is important to know which foods freeze well, but know does more than help the store sell those deals. It has the potential so save you money on groceries and is a great way to reduce food waste in your home.
75 Foods You Can Freeze
The US alone wastes a serious amount of food each day and I’m not just talking about spoiled or expired foods. We waste good, edible food. It’s because of this that learning how to preserve food in ways such as freezing it, is a great way to help your family build a food storage just in case you experience problems getting groceries.
Freezing foods also saves you time since you’re able to quickly know if something will fit into your favorite freezer cooking recipes and usually your prep work is at least partially done.
How Big of a Freezer Do I Need to Freeze Foods for Storage?
Obviously if you’re trying to learn which foods freeze well, you know you will likely need a deep freezer to really stock as much as you might want to.
If you don’t already have one, you don’t need to have a huge one. A simple 3.5 ct ft deep freezer would work if you do not have the space for a huge one. In fact, my own chest freezer is only 7 ct. ft and it’s just right for a family of four.
If buying a deep freezer is off the table currently due to budget issues, don’t let that stop you from freezing what you can. You will still be able to stock freezer foods with a regular sized freezer. Just remember that you will be far more limited in what – and how much – you can freeze.
Which Foods Freeze Well?
How to Freeze Sour Cream
Sour cream tends to go on sale several times a year based on the normal grocery store sale cycles and it happens to be one of my favorite foods that freeze well.
To freeze sour cream, simply freeze – and thaw -it in the original container upside down. The upside down part is so any water that forms when it freezes and thaws doesn’t mix into it.
Why is my Frozen Sour Cream Runny?
When you freeze sour cream, it will lose it’s normal consistency. Again, liquids in the finished whipped product you’re used to, will run to the top of the lid.
When your sour cream is fully thawed, simply stir it well to mix any liquids back into the mixture.
While it is still good to use and still tastes like what you’re used to, this makes frozen sour cream only good to use in recipes that are cooked. You would not want to eat runny sour cream on your tacos.
How to Freeze Milk
We drink raw milk at our house, but even if you don’t, it’s super easy to learn how to freeze milk. I store my raw milk in half-gallon mason jars, but it comes from the farm in milk gallons.
Side Note: Luckily, I have gotten really good at finding ways to use empty milk jugs so I’m not throwing them all out.
To freeze milk, simply pour off around one-cup off the top of the gallon. Use it in a recipe or your next bowl of cereal.
Then, just pop the entire gallon in the freezer.
Why Do You Have to Pour Off Milk When Freezing Milk?
Milk, like any other liquid, expands when it is frozen. If it is confined to a milk jug and it expands, you run the risk of the jug busting open and losing the milk you have stored.
By pouring a small amount off the top of the jug, you give the remaining milk room to expand freely.
Why did my frozen milk turn yellow?
When you pull your frozen milk out of the freezer, you may notice that it has turned a yellow-ish color.
This is okay and yes, your milk is still good.
The color change is only the sugar in the milk separating. Simply thaw it in the fridge then give a good shake to bring it mix the sugars back in.
How to Freeze Cheese
Cheese is another food that freezes well and since I love all things cheese – my absolute favorite of all the foods you can freeze. I tend to buy it 10# at a time when it is on sale because it is so expensive otherwise.
Okay, it’s expensive in my book; my book and yours are probably different.
What types of cheese freezes well?
Most hard cheese will freeze well. These include varieties such as Colby, Colby-Jack, and cheddar. Some, but not all soft cheeses will freeze well. Mozzarella is good examples of soft cheeses you can freeze.
Side Note: I stopped buying mozzarella all together and instead learned to make this homemade mozzarella cheese recipe instead.
How to Prep Cheese for Freezing
If you’re freezing shredded cheese, it is best to prep it a bit before freezing. To do this, remove it from its original packaging and place it in a freezer bag. Yes, they are both zip type baggies, but one is meant for the freezer while the other is not.
Use a freezer bag with a slider. You will get a better seal.
If you are freezing block or chunks of cheese, remove them from their original packaging, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze in a freezer bag.
Better yet, learn how to use a Foodsaver and seal it that way.
How to Freeze Cream Cheese
I never realized just how many of my favorite recipes use cream cheese until I ran out. But there I was, ready to make my Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo without cream cheese.
I won’t make that mistake again so now I stock up on cream cheese when it’s on sale. Bring it home and toss it in the freezer and I’m good to go!
To freeze cream cheese, simply toss in the freezer. It does not require any special care, however, if you would like to protect it from freezer burn a bit more, wrap the box in plastic wrap first.
Does cream cheese change when you freeze it?
Like sour cream, freezing cream cheese will cause its consistency to change after being thawed. This makes it great for recipes that use cream cheese but not for things such as spreading on crackers.
How to Freeze Eggs
Eggs are another great idea if you’re looking for foods you can freeze. In fact, they can be frozen in several different ways. Some methods of freezing eggs give a better final product than others.
How to Freeze Scrambled Eggs
Freezing scrambled eggs is rather straightforward. Cook your scrambled eggs as you normally would. Once they are fully cooked, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread the scrambled eggs onto the cookie sheet so they’re not clumped together.
Place the entire thing in the freezer to flash freeze them. Once they are fully frozen, transfer to a freezer bag.
Side Note: I personally do not freeze eggs. Instead, I use a different method that requires no refrigeration at all. You can find instructions for how to preserve eggs so they are shelf stable right HERE.
How to freeze whole raw eggs
Eggs do not have to be cooked to be frozen. Instead, you can easily learn how to freeze whole raw eggs. To do so, beat the eggs as if you were going to scramble them.
Instead of cooking them, fill an ice cube tray with them and freeze. Once they’re fully frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer bag.
Each cube makes roughly 1 egg.
How to Freeze Raw Egg Whites & How to Freeze Raw Egg Yolks
Learning how to freeze raw egg whites is even easier Separate the yolk and white and use the same method as freezing raw whole eggs.
To freeze raw egg yolks, stir them a small amount to slightly beat them. Follow the same instructions for raw whole eggs.
Can you freeze cooked egg whites?
Cooked egg whites can be frozen, however, it’s not recommended. When they are frozen, cooked egg whites tend to become rubbery and lose quite a bit of their flavor.
How to Freeze Bread
Bread is something my family goes through a lot of . Even though I eat gluten free, I do not force my kids to if they do not want to.
Because of this, I am almost constantly picking up loaves of bread, french bread and more on clearance. The thing with clearance bread is that it molds very quickly.
To stop this from happening, simply toss your bread in the freezer and thaw on the counter when you’re ready to use.
Does frozen bread get soggy?
When you freeze bread, there is always a chance that it will thaw soggy, however, you can help prevent this by freezing the entire loaf at once and by thawing on the counter.
Thawing it in the fridge will allow moisture to accumulate inside the bread bag causing it to be soggy.
How to Freeze Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns
Like bread, hot dog and hamburger buns can be frozen.
Again, just place them in the freezer to freeze and thaw as you need them. I have even been known to freeze leftover buns that we don’t use out of the package so they don’t go to waste.
We usually only use 4 or so which means I would be wasting money if I allowed them to get stale or moldy before they were used.
How to freeze Strawberries
Frozen strawberries are fantastic in a strawberry banana smoothie recipe or an amazing breakfast such as my strawberries and cream oatmeal recipe.
To freeze strawberries, core them with a strawberry corer and slice them thin. Lay each piece out on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and place in the freezer.
Once they’re frozen, seal them in an airtight storage container and use as needed.
How to Freeze Blueberries
Blueberries, like strawberries, are another quite easy food you can freeze.
Lay them out on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet and freeze. Once they’re frozen, pop them into a freezer bag and you’re good to go.
Make certain you lay them out and freeze them first. This is done so they freeze individually instead of clumping together.
How to Freeze Grapes
Frozen grapes are one of our favorite snacks! Freeze them just as you would blueberries.
to eat frozen grapes, just pop them in your mouth as you would normally. They’re so yummy when they’re frozen and the flavor is so much better.
How to Freeze Bananas
Frozen bananas are another amazing treat and a cheap healthy snack for kids. To freeze bananas, peel and slice them into bite-sized pieces.
Lay them out on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet and flash freeze like you would with strawberries.
Frozen bananas make a great addition to smoothies, used in banana bread recipes, on top of banana pancakes, or dipped in peanut butter as a quick snack. They’re also fantastic teething helps for littles in pain.
How to Freeze Green Beans
Green beans go on sale here during the late spring and summer months for around $0.75/lb. Normal price is around $3.00/lb which makes this an amazing stock up price.
Luckily green beans freeze very well.
To freeze green beans, you can either freeze directly in a freezer bag without blanching or you can blanch them. Most recommendations are to blanch, but I have seen people successfully freeze them without that step.
I personally blanch mine.
No matter which method you choose, make sure to snap the ends off before you begin.
How to Blanch Green Beans
To blanch green beans, set a pot of water on to heat until it is at a rolling boil. Add the green beans and allow them to cook for only 3 minutes. Remove them one slotted spoonful at a time and plunge into an ice water bath.
Then, lay them in a single layer onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet and flash freeze. Once frozen, move them to a freezer bag.
How to Freeze Onions
Onions are another super easy food that freezes well and since they’re super cheap usually they are easy to stock up on.
To freeze onions, simply slice or chop into the sizes you want and pop in a freezer bag. There is no blanching or other care needed.
As a side note, onions will get a bit soggy as they thaw so don’t expect to use a frozen onion on a sandwich. They are much better for use in cooking after they’re frozen.
How to Freeze Bell Peppers
Bell peppers – green, red, yellow and orange – all freeze extremely well and are one of my favorite foods you can freeze.
Like freezing onions, simply slice or chop and freeze. I usually have somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 bell peppers in the freezer simply because they’re so easy to freeze and I use them so often when I make dinners.
I find them on clearance at one of my favorite clearance stores and grab them while they’re cheap.
How to Freeze Jalapeno Peppers
This is Texas y’all and that means one thing; okay it means two. One: yes, I am a proud Texan just like the rest of us abut 2: jalapeno peppers are a staple in our home.
Luckily for me, jalapeno peppers are one of the easilest foods you can freeze.
To freeze jalapenos, simply leave them whole and store them in an airtight food storage container.
How to Freeze Sweet Corn
We LOVE sweet corn at our house! Yes, I am gluten free, but I am not grain free which means I get to enjoy it as well!
Because we want to enjoy it all winter long as fresh as can be, we use THESE instructions for how to freeze sweet corn. Corn freezes incredibly well which makes it a great addition to the foods you are freezing for storage.
Then, once we’re done, I take the corn cobs and turn them into this amazing corn cob jelly recipe!
How to Freeze Pumpkin
Fresh pumpkin makes the best pies and lucky for us, it is one of the foods you can freeze for later.
That means you can buy pie pumpkins when they’re on sale and freeze for when you’re craving pumpkin.
To freeze pumpkin, head over HERE and follow these directions. They’re super easy.
How to Freeze Squash
Pumpkin is a squash which means if you’re looking for how to freeze squash including butternut squash, all you need to do is follow the instructions found HERE for how to freeze pumpkin.
How to Freeze Bread Dough
Do you have a favorite homemade bread recipe? If so, did you know that bread dough freezes very well?
To freeze bread dough, make as you normally would but skip baking your bread. Instead, wrap tightly in plastic wrap twice. Add your dough balls to a freezer bag.
To bake, remove, thaw and allow it to rise once. Bake normally.
How to Freeze Pasta
I have seen others say that pasta does not freeze well, but I beg to differ. In fact, one of the staples of freezer cooking recipes is usually pasta because it can be cooked ahead of time and frozen.
To freeze, cook like normal and drain well. Then, store it in an airtight container until you need it.
Pasta especially freezes well when it is already combined in a recipe.
How to Freeze Lunch Meat
I hate the price of lunch meat and deli meat. It’s ridiculous what they charge so whenever I find it on sale, I stock up. Because it’s so easy for Steve to carry on the truck, we go through a lot of black forest ham in this house.
To freeze prepacked lunch meat, simply leave it in the original packaging and toss in the freezer.
If you’re freezing deli meat, add it to an airtight food storage container and freeze.
How to Freeze Peas
Peas are a great option for freezing food to store. To freeze peas, you will need to blanch them first.
To do this, plunge them into a boiling water bath for 1 and 1/2 minutes then plunge into ice water. Add to freezer bags in meal sized portion and freeze.
There are some recommendations that say you can You can freeze peas without blanching as well, by simply adding them to the freezer, but keep in mind that unblanched peas need to be used within a month and may lose color and texture.
How to Freeze Spinach
Did you realize spinach is a food you can freeze? I didn’t until last summer!
Fresh spinach leaves can be frozen without blanching if you’re going to use them within 6 months.If you need them to last longer though, you will need to blanch them with a steam blanch.
To steam blanch spinach, you’ll need a boiling pot of water and a steamer basket. Wash the spinach leaves really well to remove dirt and heat the water until it has a rolling boil.
Add the steamer basket over the pot and steam the leaves for 2 minutes. When the time is up, plunge them into ice water and spin the leaves dry using a salad spinner.
Spinach is especially prone to freezer burn so once they’re dry, add the leaves to your freezer bags and squeeze out as much air as possible or vacuum seal them.
Side Note: If you’re worried about your freezer bags losing their seal, let me show you how to vacuum seal your food without losing the seal. Check it out HERE.
How to Freeze Broccoli
We eat a lot of broccoli so I almost always have some in the freezer. It’s a bit more work, but one of my favorite foods you can freeze since we eat so much of it.
To freeze, cut into 1-1.5″ pieces and steam blanch for 5 minutes. Let it sit in the ice water bath for 5 minutes as well.
Working quickly, dry it as well as you can and flash freeze your broccoli on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for a few hours.
Once it’s frozen, move to freezer bags and remove as much air as possible.
How to Freeze Potatoes
Am I the only one who drives my kids nuts by answering repeated questions asked of me with nothing more than a long drawn out version of the word potato?
Poh-Tay-Toh as an answer makes them stop answering really quickly. Yes? Just me? Moving on then.
Give it a try though. You’ll see. We parents gotta stick together. 😀
Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods you can freeze. You can freeze them in almost every form we eat them in; fries, diced, mashed, etc.
Mashed potatoes can be frozen as is in an airtight food storage container without losing any texture or consistency.
For fries, sliced, diced or any other way, blanch the potato for 3-5 minutes depending on the size of what you’re blanching, flash freeze on a cookie sheet and transfer to freezer bags once frozen.
How to Freeze Pepperoni
Several times a year pepperoni goes on sale which is great since it is a super simple food you can freeze!
It doesn’t require any special care in freezing, although you may want to add the package to a freezer bag in case of rips or tears.
As a side note, pepperoni is actually shelf stable before it is opened as well as long as it has been cured. Most of the major brands such as Armour and Hormel as well as most store brands have been.
How to Freeze Flour
Why You Should Freeze Flour
Flour is not a food that many think of freezing but it is one that you absolutely should every time you purchase it.
If you weren’t already aware, you should know that flour can come from the store full of bugs such as weevils and their eggs. If they get into your pantry, they could destroy all dry goods you have there.
To kill these bugs and eggs and make them harmless, freeze your flour as soon as you bring it home.
No special care is needed unless you want to break it down into smaller sized freezer bags. The cold will kill any creepy crawlies and keep your pantry safe from any damage they could do.
How to Freeze Nuts
Nuts are expensive, but they’re also one of the foods you can freeze that will save you the most money by keeping them fresh.
Fresh nuts such as walnuts and cashews can go stale after being on the shelf for a while. Instead, pop them into a freezer back and freeze them to keep them fresh.
To use, simply pull them out of the freezer and allow them to come to room temperature before using in a recipe.
How to Freeze Butter
For me, margarine is the devil which means that if I can find butter for less than $2.99#, I grab it. Butter keeps especially well in the fridge anyhow, but freezing butter will extend it’s shelf life.
Butter is another food that freezes exceptionally well. It requires no extra care although I do recommend you store the sticks in a freezer bag and not its original box. The boxes tend to get soggy and wet then fall apart.
How to Freeze Fresh Herbs
It breaks my heart to harvest the fresh herbs from my garden only to have them dry out a before I am ready for them to.
To keep fresh herbs fresh, freeze them in freezer bags. Wrap them in parchment paper for the best results.
How to Freeze Carrots
Another super easy one on this list of foods you can freeze is carrots.
To properly freeze carrots, wash them well then peel. Slice or chop into whatever size pieces you choose, add to freezer bags, squeeze as much air out as you’re able to out air and freeze.
How to Freeze Mushrooms
Mushrooms are one of the more complicated foods you can freeze, but it can be done. And if you’re like our family, totally worth it due to your love of our fungi brethren.
Yeah. I don’t know why the mushrooms are our fungi brethren either but Brain went there so we’re going with it.
To start freezing mushrooms, use a pastry brush and brush off any dirt you can easily see.
If you’re chopping them, do that now then sort your mushrooms by size. This is an important step so don’t miss it since the time that you will blanch your mushrooms depends on their size.
However, before you blanch them, soak them in either 1 tsp. lemon juice or 1 1/2 tsp. citric acid with 1 pint of water for 5 minutes. This will help keep them from darkening as they blanch making them more visually appealing.
After you have sorted and soaked them, steam blanch them based on size.
For whole mushrooms, steam them for 5 minutes. For buttons or quarters steam them for 3.5 minutes, and for mushroom slices steam for 3 minutes. Plunge them into an ice bath, strain the water off and pack into your freezer bags.
You can also freeze mushrooms by sauteing them in a bit of butter or oil for 4-5 minutes or until they’re done. Once they’re cooked, allow them to cool and freeze in freezer bags or individual containers.
How to Freeze Oranges
Oranges are another one of the super easy foods you can freeze. You can freeze oranges whole or sliced.
Simply pack into freezer bags or canning jars and freeze.
If you pack into jars, be sure to leave around 1″ head space to account for any expansion the oranges may do since they are full of liquid.
Keep in mind that their texture might change a bit once they’re thawed. They’ll still be good but may be a bit softer than normal.
How to Freeze Lemons
To freeze lemons, follow the instructions for how to freeze oranges.
How to Freeze Limes
To freeze limes, follow the instructions for how to freeze oranges.
How to Freeze Pears
To freeze pears, wash, peel and core them first. You can slice them if you prefer.
Then, soak in 3 tbsp. lemon juice with 1 qt. t of water to prevent them from browning. Dry them after soaking and freeze.
How to Freeze Ricotta Cheese
Freeing ricotta cheese is easy. Just like sour cream, freeze it in it’s original container upside down.
It may be a bit watery after thawing, but mixing it back in will bring it back to its original consistency.
How to Freeze Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the foods you can freeze, but may need to think twice about.
To freeze yogurt, simply add to the freezer. It will however lose its texture and likely separate from itself so it will need stirred.
If you’re going to freeze yogurt, I would suggest you try it with one container first to see if you like it. Or you could make these Homemade GoGurts since they’re meant to be frozen.
How to Freeze Garlic
I was shocked too, but Garlic is one of the foods you can freeze! Freeze it whole, peeled or chopped in freezer bags or small mason jars.
If you would rather preserve it in oil, keep in mind that the only safe way to preserve garlic in oil is to use olive oil. It is too acidic to safely preserve garlic in any other oil.
How to Freeze Rice
I am always making more rice than I need so lucky for me it’s one of the foods you can freeze. To freeze rice, cook it normally and allow it to cool.
Store it in a freezer safe bowl and freeze as is. Thaw completely to use.
How to Freeze Beans
Cooked beans are another food that freezes well. Cook them until done, drain well and freeze.
How to Freeze Pancakes
I love pancakes, especially my banana pancake recipe. However, no mater how much I love them, I hate having to cook them so early in the morning.
The solution is simple though; freeze them!
Cook as you normally would and allow them to cook entirely. Lay your pancakes flat on a cookie sheet and when frozen, place into freezer bags.
It can be helpful if you separate each pancake with parchment paper to keep them from sticking together.
How to Freeze Waffles
Ask my daughter Laura and she’ll tell you that waffles are one of her favorite foods you can freeze.
Freeze waffles the same way you freeze pancakes.
How to Freeze Muffins
Have extra muffins you want to keep from going stale?
Freeze them!
The process is just like freezing bread. I like to pull this trick out when I make my blueberry pancake muffins for mornings.
How to Freeze Quick Bread Batter
Not only can you freeze muffins and other quick bread recipes, but you can freeze their unbaked batter as well.
To freeze quick bread batter, freeze in a freezer bag flat. To bake, thaw fully then stir well.
This is one of my favorite tricks for keeping my chocolate chip quick bread recipe and my chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe on hand since we love to treat ourselves with them so often.
How to Freeze Crackers
Crackers are one of the more surprising foods you can freeze, but you absolutely can to keep them from going stale.
Freeze them in their original sleeves in a hard sided food safe container.
I like to make my homemade graham crackers recipe and keep them in the freezer for when the girls or I want a quick snack.
How to Freeze Burritos
Frozen burritos are fantastic when you want a late night snack or easy dinner, but the store bought ones are so unhealthy!
Luckily for us, burritos freeze incredibly well!
Make them as normal and allow to cool completely. Wrap each one in parchment paper then twice in plastic wrap
Freeze in a ziploc bag and microwave or bake when you are ready to eat..
Also: Yes. You can freeze more than one burrito per bag.
How to freeze taquitos and tacos
If you have homemade taquitos or tacos left over from dinner, grab them and freeze them.
Freeze them just as you would burritos.
When you’re freezing tacos, make certain they are just meat and cheese with no additional toppings. Taco toppings tend to not freeze very well for the most part.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough
I love baking cookies, but sometimes I only want to bake one or two.
In this case, frozen cookie dough comes to the rescue.
Simply make your favorite cookie recipe and freeze the dough in an airtight container.
If you know you will be wanting to bake single cookies like me, consider freezing them in single serving sizes to make things easier.
How to Freeze Frosting
Homemade frosting is delicious but depending on the frosting recipe you’re using, it can take a bit to make.
Instead, make a batch before you need it and freeze just as you would cookie dough.
You can also freeze canned frosting in the same manner if you have leftovers.
How to Freeze Pizza Dough
Pizza dough is one of the simplest foods you can freeze. To do so, freeze just as if you would bread dough.
You can also free homemade pizzas. To freeze them, partially bake the crust then add the toppings and bake the rest of the way.
Allow it to cool completely.
Wrap the whole pizza in plastic wrap then freeze.
Or, if you prefer, cut the pizza and wrap each slice in plastic wrap to freeze in freezer bags.
How to Freeze Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Freeze pb&J? Yes!
Make our homemade Uncrustables recipe found HERE and you can do just that!
School lunches and snacks are so easy now!
How to Freeze Jams and Jellies
Have you ever heard of freezer jam? A quick search will find you a recipe in almost any flavor you want.
With every jar of homemade freezer jam you make, you don’t have to buy one!
How to Freeze Bagels
Bagels are another food that freezes well. To freeze bagels, freeze them just as you would bread.
How to Freeze English Muffins
Just like bagels and bread, freeze English muffins the same way you would bread.
One of my favorite uses for English muffins is to make pre-made breakfast sandwiches. Just cook your meat and a scrambled egg, wrap in two layers of plastic wrap and freeze.
How to Freeze Soup
I love making a big pot of my homemade chicken noodle soup recipe, but we always have much more left over than we can eat before it all goes bad.
The solution? Freeze it!
Soups – with the exception of cream based soups – can be frozen by adding to a freezer container and leaving a bit of head space at the top for expansion.
How to Freeze Chili
We love our chili in Texas and since it freezes well, it is easy to have a bowl aytime you want.
Either freeze the whole pot at once or break it up into individual soup containers for single sized bowls.
How to Freeze Broth and Stock
Do you make homestead stock and broth? I do but I never need to use it right away.
Since they’re liquid, freezing them is super easy.
Freeze homemade broths and stocks the same way you do soups.
How to Freeze Dry Cereal
Why You Should Freeze Cereal
Cereal is one of my stock up items. We all eat it like it’s going to run out.
But keeping dry cereal fresh can be a challenge.
What most p[eople do not realize is that you can freeze cereal to keep it fresh.
To freeze cereal, keep it in it’s original bag, but remove from the box. Place the cereal bag in a freezer bag and freeze.
Frozen cereal keeps around 3 months.
How to Freeze Potato Chips
Potato chips go stale quite easily, but tossing them in the freezer can keep them fresh.
When you are ready to eat them, do not allow them to thaw.
Unfortunately, thawed potato chips are soggy so it is best to freeze them in indivual sized portions.
How to Freeze Chocolate
Keep your chocolate stash secret by freezing it.
Not only will it keep sticky hands out of it, but it will also keep it fresh.
Chocolate needs no special treatment to freeze. Freeze it in its original packaging or
How to Keep Flaxseed Fresh
Flaxseed has so many health benefits that it can be worth stocking up on when you find a good sale. Freeze it like chocolate to keep it fresh.
How to Freeze Salsa
If you have leftover salsa that you don’t want to toss, freeze it in an airtight container. It is already cooked so there is no need to do any other special processing.
Better yet, learn how to make homemade salsa and can it.
How to Freeze Yeast
Active Dry Yeast is only shelf stable for a little while. Refrigerating it can help extend that shelf life, but freezing it will extend it even more.
To freeze it, store in an airtight container and freeze. Allow it to come to room temperature slowly before using.
How to Freeze Pasta Sauce
I love to make my homemade pasta sauce with meat recipe but it only lasts a week or so in the fridge.
Instead, I package it into freezer containers and freeze it. No other special treatment needed.
How to Freeze Pizza Sauce
Pizza sauce can be frozen the same way as pasta sauce.
How to Freeze Pie Crust
Pie crust freezes incredibly well and can be frozen in two different ways.
To freeze unbaked pie crust, either line a foil pan with the crust, cover with parchment paper and then foil.
Or, roll your pie crust into dough balls and wrap twice with plastic wrap.
When you are ready to bake your pies, allow the pie crust to come to room temperature and knead a couple of times to recombine it.
How to Freeze Coffee
Coffee is one of my favorite foods to freeze because well; coffee.
Simply package it in airtight containers and freeze.
If you want to store coffee, but do not want to freeze it, coffee also stores well in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. I have a tutorial that shows you how to store food in mylar bags right HERE.
How to Freeze Popcorn
Keep bulk popcorn fresh longer by freezing it in freezer bags.
No special care is needed as long as the kernels are kept dry.
How to Freeze Beef Bones for Homemade Beef Stock
Save all your beef bones in a freezer bag. Once you get enough, make homemade beef stock!
This includes all beef bones including roasts, steaks and other cuts.
How to Freeze Chicken Bones for Homemade Chicken Stock
Like beef bones, save your chicken and turkey bones for making homemade stock.
Freeze them in ziploc bags until you’re ready to make your stock.
How to Freeze Chicken Fat for Lard
Chicken fat can be rendered into lard quite easily. If you’ve never used lard, it makes a great addition to any recipe that calls for shortening or butter.
If you do not have enough to render into lard, freeze it in a freezer bag until you get enough.
How to Freeze Beef Fat for Tallow
Beef fat can also be frozen and rendered. When you render beef fat, its called tallow.
Tallow can be used for everything from cooking or making homemade candles to making homemade soap.
Why You Should Freeze Vegetable Scraps
Not only can you grow vegetables from garden scraps, but you can also save those same scraps and freeze them for later when you’re ready to make homemade stock.
Adding vegetables scraps to homemade stock recipes gives them subtle flavors that will enhance your stock and make it so much better.
How to Keep Marshmallows Fresh
Marshmallows can go stale very quickly, but a super easy way to keep marshmallows fresh is to freeze them.
To freeze marshmallows, simply pop them in the freezer. They are okay in their original packaging as long as the bag is tightly closed.
How to Freeze Zucchini
I love zucchini but it goes bad too quickly for me to really stock up on it since there are only two of us in the house that eat it.
Instead of letting it go bad, I freeze it!
Use a hand grater to grate the zucchini. Squeeze as much water out of it as you can and freeze in freezer bags.
Zucchini also dehydrates very well. You can slice it thinly then run it though a food dehydrator to make homemade zucchini chips.
How to Freeze KoolAid to Make Homemade Popsicles
Grab your kids favorite flavor of KoolAid and some Popsicle sticks.
Mix the KoolAid and pour into ice cube trays then pop int he freezer.
When it starts to get slushy, add a Popsicle stick and freeze until solid. You’ve got homemade Popsicles that are small enough they won’t make a huge mess!
If you want “pretty” treats, you can pick up some Popsicle molds instead of using an ice cube tray.
If you have extra Koolaid on hand, consider making my Koolaid Pie recipe! They’re so yummy and super easy to make!
How to Freeze Tea and Tea Bags
Like coffee, tea and tea bags can be frozen to keep them fresh tasting. Tea is frozen the same way as coffee.
If you would rather not freeze your coffee and tea, you can also store coffee and tea long term by learning how to use mylar bags to store food for long term storage.
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