15 freezer friendly foods
The average UK household throws away £730 worth of food every year, yet there's a simple way this could be cut by a third, saving £250 a year just by making use of something you're likely to already have at home... your freezer!
But for many, it turns out that knowing what can and can't be frozen leaves us in a flummox. Until now that is. Here are 15 foods that can be easily frozen. There are plenty more.
So next time you see them getting close to their best before or use by dates, pop them in the freezer to prevent them from going to waste and enjoy them another time. For ideas to make your own frozen ready meals check these out.
1. Cheese
If grated and stored in an airtight container, cheese holds up great in the freezer. Toss on top of a pizza or a pasta dish to give it a brie-lliant kick.
2. Milk and dairy-free milk
Milk can be frozen and stored for months. This is a great way to combat the 6.7 million pints of milk which are wasted in Norfolk and Suffolk each year! It will expand slightly when frozen and needs some time to defrost. The same goes for oat milk. If your oat milk is homemade (shameless plug for our recipe), it may go a bit grainy so strain it through a cheese cloth (or fine sieve) after it has thawed if needed.
3. Eggs
Don’t freeze your eggs in the shell. Break them in a bowl and beat until the yolk and egg white is just about blended. Put the mix in an airtight container and label with the date and number of eggs used.
4. Mushrooms, broccoli and other veg
Vegetables such as mushrooms, avocados, spinach, rhubarb (yes, it is a vegetable!) beans, carrots, broccoli can all be frozen. If they naturally have a high water content it's best for them to be pureed, sautéed, stewed or made into these easy freezer-friendly veg meals before freezing.
5. Cooked rice
Rice can be frozen, but be sure to freeze it as soon as possible after cooking. Pack the rice into a microwavable container or Tupperware as soon as it’s cooked. When the rice has cooled, seal the container and put straight into the freezer. Make sure to reheat thoroughly so it’s piping hot before eating. Want to know more? Check out our guide to freezing rice safely.
6. Mashed potato and sweet potato
You can freeze cooked potatoes and mashed potato. Make sure you do this when they're fully cooled though. For mashed potato, you could either transfer all of it into a freezer bag/container or if you're feeling particularly #FoodSavvy, you can freeze your own individual servings by scooping out portions individually like ice-cream scoops. Freeze these on parchment paper for about an hour and then transfer into a freezer bag/container from there.
7. Cooked pasta
Slightly under-cooked pasta is best for freezing. This avoids it turning starchy when you reheat.
8. Bananas
Bananas freeze fantastically without their skin. Use frozen bananas to make a healthy alternative to ice cream, or coat them in melted chocolate before freezing for a sweet treat.
9. Butter
You butter believe it, it freezes beautifully. Either wrap it tightly in aluminium foil, beeswax wrap or plastic freezer wrap or place it inside container or freezer bag. To thaw it quickly, you can grate it or microwave it…or go slow and let it defrost over time in the fridge.
10. Tomatoes
Blitz before freezing and keep in a sealed container. You'll have tomatoes for sauces to the ready at all times.
11. Bread
Whether it's homemade banana bread, Irish soda bread or shop-bought bread, you could slice it before you freeze to keep a constant supply of bread ready to toast fresh if needed.
12. Berries
Berries freeze nicely, although they may go a bit squidgy when defrosting. Sprinkle on top of your porridge, pop them in a smoothie or whip up a healthy summer pudding.
13. Chopped chillies and herbs
Seal in a clip lock box to avoid frostbite. Some herbs don’t freeze so well. See below.
14. Cakes, brownies and biscuits
Believe it or not, they can all go in in the freezer. If you have any left that is. Wrap well.
15. Wine
Wine can be frozen, just like water. It works best with wines that taste better chilled (like white or rose).
Foods that don't freeze well
Some herbs - basil, chives and parsley turn brown in the freezer. You can mix them in oil or melted butter and pop in a ice cube tray to avoid the issue.
Yogurt - use up your yoghurt in a smoothie before heading off on holiday.
Some dairy - soft cheeses (except brie), cream cheese, cottage cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream.
Fresh salad greens - finish off that lonely lettuce with a delicious fattoush recipe or chuck it in a soup. It grills well too.
What now?
Check out our guide to making the most of your freezer!