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I'm starting this thread because I'm hoping to get a deep freezer soon.
What are some things that you freeze that many people don't think about freezing? What's the optimal way to freeze those items? Any drawbacks to freezing the food? (For example, I tend not to make burgers out of ground beef that has been frozen and defrosted.) When you freeze veggies and fruit on your own (not purchased frozen), how do you do it?
Some things I know people freeze but seem kind of odd to me are butter, lunch meat, guacamole (mentioned in a Costco thread)
Thanks!
I freeze the castoff shells of shrimp for seafood stock
I'm starting this thread because I'm hoping to get a deep freezer soon.
What are some things that you freeze that many people don't think about freezing? What's the optimal way to freeze those items? Any drawbacks to freezing the food? (For example, I tend not to make burgers out of ground beef that has been frozen and defrosted.) When you freeze veggies and fruit on your own (not purchased frozen), how do you do it?
Some things I know people freeze but seem kind of odd to me are butter, lunch meat, guacamole (mentioned in a Costco thread)
Thanks!
Butter keeps very well in the freezer, When It's on sale I'll buy 2 lbs. and freeze. You can freeze cheese too. The bagged shredded kind and the bricks of cheese. My neighbor always does this and it tastes fine after defrosted. She also told me you can freeze fresh corn on the cob. Just cut off both ends and put in a freezer bag, husks and all. I have never frozen fresh fruit. I freeze chocolate bars too. If you don't like making burgers out of a 2 pound chop meat that's been frozen then thawed out, why not make burger patty's from the fresh meat, then individually portion them out into sandwich size zip-loc bags? What is your aversion to thawing out chop meat them making something from it?? I do it all the time but never leave meat in the freezer more than 1 month. We freeze soups, homemade sauce for pasta.
- Be sure to label all packages clearly with the contents and date.
- If you have a huge stash, consider a "map" and an Excel (or other) spread sheet so that stuff is rotated out and used before it gets freezer burn.
- Make it a habit to check that the freezer is working on a regular basis. That is, don't just stick it somewhere and only open it once a month.
- Have a Plan B and Plan C in the case of long-term power outage. That might be a back-up generator or meat locker or other place to move the meat. Some people claim they will hold a huge grill out or can it.
- Evaluate whether you really need a deep freezer and buy the smaller one that you need. They can get expensive over time. That said, meat is rapidly rising and putting away a 1/4 steer may pay for itself several times. Check the math.
I freeze the castoff shells of shrimp for seafood stock
I've done this. The wild shrimp, much more than the delicately thin shelled farmed shrimp, have many minerals in their shells which we get in the stock. I also sometimes "suck/gnaw" on the shrimp shells -- one reason to eat seafood at home.
Another tip for freezing in general, things come out best if they were frozen quickly. Don't make the packages too thick, don't use big containers. After they are quickly frozen you can put them in bigger packages/containers. When it freezes fast it comes out more like it was originally (though tomatoes will still come out mushy). If you put the stuff to be frozen on the floor of the freezer, it freezes faster. If you put it on top of other frozen foods, or buried in other frozen foods, it doesn't work as well. It could lower the quality of the foods around it if they thaw too, then re-freeze.
Keeping the air out of things, +1. This applies more to solid foods. Freezing something with solid food surrounded by a liquid is also a great way. I freeze leftover turkey in gravy and it comes out a lot better with the turkey not being exposed to air (which would dry it).
You can also freeze (slices or whole), cakes, pies, cookies (baked or the dough) and candy. We keep our big bags of cereal in the freezer. We keep things like Jiffy Mix in the freezer. Shredded coconut, raisins, nuts.
Tortilla shells, both corn and flour. Juices off of roasts for soup. Quick breads as well as regular breads, and crackers.
Hope this helps!
I freeze fruit for my daily smoothies for the month:
Buy fresh fruit in bulk on the first of each month, prep them (slice, dice), and freeze in thirty ziplock bags according to my smoothie flavors and label each bag.
I love the ease and speed of just throwing the fruits in my blender and adding fresh veggies-- it really saves me time in the mornings.
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