B
lessed is the individual who invented refrigerators. Imagine always having to run to the grocery store every time your stomach rumbles because you didn’t have any way of storing the groceries you purchased the last time. Well, thank God for those food preservers called refrigerators/freezers.
Storing food in the freezer cuts back on wastage and with all going on around the world, it’s advisable to always have food in bulk in case of another unplanned occurrence. That is to say that in today’s world, freezing your food is a bit of a compulsory lifestyle. This will not only prepare you for any unforeseen contingencies but will also increase the shelf life of your food.
Well then, now we have that covered, let’s dive into creative and practical ways of storing food in the freezer. From vegetables to protein and everything in between, this curation will provide the much-needed food storage knowledge you need to keep your foods fresher for longer.
Check out 7 practical tips for storing food in the freezer to maintain freshness…
#1. Use silicone ice cube trays
The best way to freeze stock or leftover pan drippings is to place them in silicone ice cube trays. This offers a witty way to use the exact “cubes” you need for your next meal without having to defrost the entire batch.
#2. Cut up and freeze fruit
Do you have some overripe fruit? Well, don’t throw them out just yet. Rather, chop them into smaller bits and pop them into the freezer. Then, bring them out to make when next you need to make smoothies. To store properly, Poosh advises that you “evenly space the fruit slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them before transferring them to a silicone container for storage so that the pieces don’t stick together.” The chopped bits will stay fresh for three to four months. Don’t forget to date your bags.
#3. Blanch vegetables first before storing them in the freezer
Have you ever put vegetables in the freezer only to find that they end up looking lifeless? Certainly, we all have. This is because the veggies weren’t blanched first. To get this done, throw your vegetables or fruits into boiling water for about 2 minutes. Then proceed to deep them into iced water, otherwise, place them under cold running water. This will halt the cooking process. After this, pat veggies dry and leave to cool off. Now it’s freezer ready. Blanching prevents oxidization and the annoying brown color that it brings.
#4. Use containers for storing food in the freezer
After cooking that yummy soup or stew, don’t get tempted to throw them into one big container. Firstly, allow them to cool off after which you put them into small containers before freezing. This would ensure you reheat just the amount you need as opposed to defrosting the full soup/stew, taking a portion, and then putting back in the freezer. Refreezing after thawing is a bad idea.
#5. Label appropriately before storing in the freezer
It is true that storing your food in the freezer makes it last longer, notwithstanding, everything has an expiration date. It’s usually convenient to pick up the nearest food we can reach and abandon the ones at the base of the freezer. Rather than do this, use a permanent marker to label the food name and expiring date. Also, randomly do a routine check to see the foods that have been in the freezer the longest then plan your meals around them. This helps you get practical and intentional with food consumption.
#6. Avoid thin storage bags
Using freezer bags or microwaveable plastic plates in contrast to regular plastic bags keeps the food fresher and slows down thawing time. The plastic plate is the best bet if you want to microwave food immediately. Finally, do note that you shouldn’t cook food when still in the freezer bags.
#7. Store raw meat at the bottom
When storing food in the freezer, it is advised to put raw meat, fish, and seafood in the lower part of the freezer, which is also the coldest. This avoids liquid from the meat dripping on other foods in the freezer.
If storing food in the freezer is done right, it makes your cooking and eating a lot easier. Indeed, you get to enjoy your fresh foods for longer.
Featured image: Ello/Unsplash
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