Things You Can Freeze to Save Time & Money

Things You Can Freeze to Save Time and Money

According to some estimates, nearly one-third of the world’s food is wasted every year. It either goes bad or is discarded for other reasons. Country folk are a bit more practical than that, which is why we’ve compiled some foods that can be frozen to save you time and money.

Where to Start

Oregon State University Extension Service has published a guide titled Freezing Fruits and Vegetables. It’s a great resource for items you’ve grown on your land. But you can still freeze other foods as well. The list of items you can freeze include:

• Bananas (peeled)
• Bread
• Broth (beef and chicken)
• Butter
• Chocolate Chips
• Cooked pasta
• Cooked rice
• Cream cheese
• Eggs
• Flour
• Grated cheese
• Herbs
• Nuts (keeps them from going rancid)
• Soups
• Stock (beef and chicken)

Coastal tip: Flour can be kept in the freezer for long-term storage and used instantly in recipes. Plus, you can toast frozen bread right out of the freezer. Time saver!

Looking for some tips and tricks to freeze your food right? Check out our article Canning vs. Freezing in Today’s Fast-Paced World.

Food That Don’t Like Being Frozen

Sure, you can stick almost anything in the freezer and consumer it later, but there are a few that aren’t as appetizing after being thawed. Those include: milk, deep-fried foods, and sour cream.

Coastal tip: Pick up a stack of ice cube trays, fill them with olive oil, and stack them in your freezer. A typical slot holds 1 ounce of liquid per section, making it the perfect size for cooking.

What if the Power Goes Out?

First, keep the freezer shut when the power goes out. Depending on the make, model, and efficiency of your freezer, the meat and other items should be okay without power for several days. If the freezer is only half full, you could have less time until your food begins to thaw.

One way to help add efficiency to your freezer and guard against thawing if the power goes out, is to fill the vacant spots with bags of crushed ice. They never go bad, and when you need a bag of ice for the cooler or camping, all you have to do is reach into the freezer.  

How Long do Frozen Foods Last?

Properly prepared meats can last a year or more in the freezer, while vegetables, fruits, and dairy should only be in the freezer for eight months. Breads, pastas, and other starchy foods can last a long while in the freezer, but do best between three and six months.

A Word on Freezer Burn

While freezer burn doesn’t look great and makes food less appetizing, it does not make food unsafe to eat in most cases. The burn is caused by air that has come in contact with the food. If those patches of burn bug you, chip them away and use your food as planned.

Save Time and Money at Coastal

You’ll find all the freezing and canning supplies you need, along with Harvest Right Freeze Driers that make it easy to free-dry food at home. Stop by your Northwest owned and operated Coastal for expert advice and aisles of everything you need for your country way of life.