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Freezing is a great way to retain the texture, flavor and color of foods and can help you with your weekly menu planning so avoiding waste. Remember to ensure items are well wrapped to protect them from freezer burn caused by prolonged exposure to freezing cold air.
The main thing to remember when freezing is once defrosted don’t re-freeze.
It’s important to remember these rules to avoid food poisoning and it’s worth mentioning that food containing ingredients that have been defrosted can then actually be frozen again once they have been cooked. So defrosting some ground beef, cooking a meatloaf with this ground beef and then freezing it is perfectly ok.
How to Freeze Herbs: Softer herbs, like basil, cilantro or dill lose color and structure and are best not frozen. Herbs such rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, chives and mint freeze best and can keep for up to three months. A great tip is to freeze chopped herbs ice cube trays. Fill the ice cube tray halfway with water or oil, depending on how you plan to use the cubes: in soups, stews, or sauces, use water. If you plan to use the herbs in sautés or stir-fries, use a neutral oil like canola or light olive oil.
How to Freeze Egg Whites: Whole eggs and separated yolks can’t be frozen, but egg whites will keep frozen for up to six months. When beaten, eggs can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. They are best thawed in the fridge and defrosted beaten eggs are best used in baking.
How to Freeze Bread: To freeze bread, ensure it is well wrapped to protect it from freezer burn and use it within a month. Bread can be frozen for up to six months, but it is best to use it within a month to ensure optimal quality.
How to Freeze Vegetables: Vegetables with a high-water content such as tomatoes and cucumbers don’t freeze well as freezing damages the structure. Other vegetables freeze well, like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, and carrots. Freezing these vegetables will work best if they are blanched first. To blanch simply plunge the vegetables into boiling water for 2 minutes, remove, then place under cold water to immediately stop the cooking process. Pumpkins are a great example of a vegetable that’s perfect for freezing. Peel and cut the pumpkin in rough large cubes, freeze and cook later.
How to Freeze Meat: Raw meat will keep for around six months but is best used within 3 months. Thawed meat should never be re-frozen. If you want to freeze meat that’s already been thawed, then cook it first. Cooked and cured meats such as bacon should be frozen for no more than one month.
How to Freeze Fruit: Summer fruits can be kept in the freezer all year round. It’s best to freeze the berries laid out on a tray then placed in a container or freezer bag, this way they won’t stick together when freezing. Some berries such as raspberries and blueberries freeze reasonably well, whilst others like strawberries, which have higher water content, can be frozen but lose firmness when thawed and are best used for smoothies and purees.
To freeze bananas, peel them and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the bananas to a freezer bag or container for long-term storage. Frozen bananas are great for smoothies and baking. Try using frozen bananas in this delicious banana bread recipe!
How to Freeze Cheese: To freeze cheese, it is best to grate it before freezing for ease of use. Cheeses that have been frozen are best used only for cooking. Defrost the cheese overnight in the fridge before using. Not all types of cheese freeze well. Hard and semi-hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda, and Swiss freeze better than soft cheeses like brie or cream cheese, which can become crumbly and lose their texture.
How to Freeze Fish: Fish is just perfect for freezing and it’s best frozen straight after it’s caught. Frozen fish is best used within 1 month and should be used within a maximum of 3 months.
How to Freeze Milk: Milk freezes well and can be kept frozen for up to one month.
How to Freeze Wine: Many people forget that wine can be frozen. As a great tip, if you have any wine left over, freeze it in ice-cube trays and use in cooking with great results.