Sick and tired of your food going bad? Don’t have time to constantly cook meals from scratch? Well then look no further, your freezer is your new best friend.
Some students might use this appliance sparingly, throwing in a few ice cube trays, a couple frozen pizzas, maybe a pint of Ben and Jerry’s here or there for emergencies during midterms. However if used correctly, a surprising variety of ingredients and yes, even prepared meals can be frozen and actually revitalized to near perfect condition – saving you money and that extra shopping trip.
While the texture of some of these foods may slightly change in the process, their taste remain generally fresh once thawed and cooked. Pro tip: double or even triple wrap your foods to preserve their quality as much as possible and prevent freezer burn.
Drawing from articles by The New York Times, Epicurious, and Huffington Post, here is a compiled list of foods you should start freezing right away.
1. Butter
Photo by Jaime Cantor
An incredibly easy way to save money is to buy butter in bulk (whatup Costco) when it’s on sale and stash extra sticks in the freezer. When needed, simply let it sit overnight in the fridge to defrost.
2. Herbs
Photo by Irvin Mai
Though storing herbs in the freezer may cause them to limp or wilt, the Huffington Post recommends storing them in cubes of olive oil to better preserve their flavor and condition.
3. Meat
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
Whether it’s steak, chicken, lamb chops, or bacon, freezing meat is very convenient and pretty straightforward. For both cooked and raw meat, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and throw it in a labeled freezer bag. When you’re ready to channel your inner carnivore, let it sit in the fridge overnight and prepare it as you usually would the next day.
4. Avocados For Dip
Photo by Caitlin Shoemaker
Although the texture of thawed avocados isn’t ideal for salads or as a snack, the taste is perfectly acceptable to toss in any dip or guacamole.
5. Nuts
Photo by Bari Blanga
While it may seem unnecessary to freeze nuts, they have a tendency to grow rancid fairly quickly over time. Storing them is also just as easy as throwing them in a freezer ziplock bag.
6. Baking Ingredients
Photo by Phoebe Melnick
Freezing ingredients such as chocolate chips, shredded coconut, flour, or even buttermilk (as long as it is used for baking) ensures that they keep longer and are always on hand when you need them.
7. Sauces
Photo by Kristie Mahan
This is the perfect solution for those late nights when you don’t have time to cook. Frozen pasta sauce, gravy, or even pesto are quick to heat up on the stove and store again in freezer Ziploc bags.
8. Breads and Baked Goods
Photo by Christin Urso
Whether you have freshly baked cookies, tortillas, bagels or sandwich bread, baked goods can easily be thawed. For sandwich bread, put slices straight into the toaster at a higher temperature. For tortillas, bagels, or sweets, first microwave them approximately one minute and finish them off by toasting in the oven or frying pan.
9. Stocks
Photo by Jackie Falkenberg
Chicken, beef, and vegetable stock are also easy to buy in bulk, pour in ice cube trays, and use for your next stew or soup. While it doesn’t keep long in the fridge, in the freezer it can actually last up to 6 months. #mindblown