freezer tricks to help all your fresh food last longer

Things to know about freezing, by storing food properly in the freezer you can save both time in the kitchen, and the strain on your wallet when visiting the greengrocers or supermarket.

Storing food in the freezer is a healthy foodies secret weapon. It allows you to get the nutritional quality of fresh produce all year-round.

You can freeze your fresh food to help prolong your store visits. By freezing fresh foods, you can make your supplies last longer and you can batch cook without waste. It’s a win win situation! So what’s the trick you ask to storing food in a freezer? How do I avoid icy, freezer burn-ridden foods? Here are some helpful tips to extend the shelf life of your food items at home.

Blanch fresh vegetables first

If you are worried that fresh vegetables may go bad in the fridge, freezing them is a perfect way to get more life out of them. But here is a lovely tip, blanching them in boiling water first will help to minimise degradation and increase the best before date. Blanching helps to prevent vegetables from oxidising (otherwise allowing them to turn brown) which also changes the freshness of flavour and quality. Another time saver is that if they are blanched first you can put them directly into your dishes when you defrost. Freezing also helps to preserve vegetables that you aren’t able to use right away and which also contributes to cutting back on food waste.

Green beans, broccoli, onions, asparagus, Brussel sprouts, bell peppers, carrots, corn kernels, zucchini, squash, and dark leafy greens and great blanched in boiling water for a couple of minutes before dunking them in ice cold water. Remember to pat them dry before storing them in the freezer. 

A baking sheet goes a long way with fresh fruit

All types of berries and stone fruit such as cherries, peaches, plums and nectarines are best to freeze. Wash and dry your fruit thoroughly and then slice them (if required). Drying them thoroughly will help prevent ice crystals and stop the fruit from sticking together. An easy way to do this is to line the fruit/fruit slices with a single baking sheet and freeze the fruit until they become solid. Once they are frozen, transfer the fruit to a freezer bag or container until you need them. 

Store your soup in single-serve portions

Soup can last for up to three months when stored in the freezer and perfect if you’ve made a big match. Buy instead of freezing the entire soup in one batch, divide it into single serving portions (don’t forget to cool it first) and remember to remove as much air as possible. Storing soup in resealable bags is a great way to maximise on freezer storage by laying them flat until frozen.

Pre-slice bread before freezing

If you don’t get the change to eat your favourite loaf of bread before the expiration date, pop the slices in the freezer. What’s more, you can pop your slices straight into the toaster or grill without defrosting. It’s the perfect hack when you’re craving avocado and honey on toast with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Store your yoghurt in ice cube trays

If you like buying your yoghurt in large family size containers but never get round to finishing it all, why not dollop your it into ice cube trays to freeze. It’s a great way to add them to smoothies straight from the freezer.

Freeze rice instead

If you’re like any of us here at AZADA and find yourself cooking big batches of cooked rice, but keep it stored in the refrigerator, why not freeze it to enjoy it at a later date. This also helps to extend its shelf life. (Just remember to pop in in the freezer, after it’s cooled down and within two hours of cooking to prevent food poisoning!). Once frozen, you can easily defrost it and reheat it or use it in a fried rice recipe. 

For further information please contact Anisha, anisha@azada.es