The freezer is one of the most powerful preservation tools in your kitchen. It allows you to stock up on sales and to save leftovers for later. However, just tossing food into the freezer is not enough. You must use the right techniques to protect your food from freezer burn, moisture loss, and flavor degradation. These 11 simple freezer hacks will keep your frozen foods much fresher for a much longer time.
1. Freeze Foods in a Single, Flat Layer
When you are freezing items like cookies, berries, or meat patties, you should spread them out on a baking sheet first. Place the sheet in the freezer until the items are frozen solid. After that, you can transfer them to a single freezer bag. This process, known as flash freezing, prevents the items from clumping together in one large, icy mass.
2. Blanch Your Vegetables First
Before you freeze fresh vegetables like broccoli or green beans, you must blanch them. This means you should briefly boil them for a minute or two. Then, you must plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. This process stops the enzymes that cause the vegetables to lose their flavor, their color, and their texture.
3. Double-Wrap Your Meats
Freezer burn is the number one enemy of frozen meat. It occurs when air comes into contact with the meat’s surface, causing it to dehydrate. The best defense is a good offense. You should wrap the meat tightly in plastic wrap or butcher paper first. Then, you should place that wrapped package inside a heavy-duty freezer bag.
4. Freeze Soups and Stocks in Bags
You can save a huge amount of freezer space by changing how you store liquids. Pour your cooled soup, broth, or chili into a zip-top freezer bag. Squeeze out all the air. Then, lay the bag flat on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once it is frozen, you will have a thin, stackable “brick” of soup that takes up almost no space.
5. Use Parchment Paper Between Layers
When you freeze hamburger patties, pancakes, or slices of bread, place a small square of parchment paper between each one. This simple step is a lifesaver. It ensures that the items will not stick together. It allows you to easily remove just one or two items at a time without having to thaw the entire block.
6. Squeeze All the Air Out of Freezer Bags
Air is the enemy. Before you seal any freezer bag, remove as much air as possible. You can press the bag flat, or you can use the “straw method.” This is where you seal the bag almost all the way, insert a straw, and suck out the remaining air. This creates a makeshift vacuum seal that dramatically slows down freezer burn.
7. Never Put Hot Food in the Freezer
Placing a hot container of leftovers directly into the freezer is a bad idea for two reasons. First, it will raise the ambient temperature of your freezer. This can cause the surrounding items to partially thaw and then refreeze. Second, it creates a lot of steam, which will turn into messy ice crystals all over your food. You should always let your food cool completely in the fridge first.
8. Freeze Shredded Cheese with Cornstarch
Shredded cheese will often freeze into a single, solid clump. To prevent this, you can toss the shredded cheese with a tiny amount of cornstarch or flour before you freeze it. This will absorb any excess moisture. It will keep the shreds separate and easy to use.
9. Freeze Herbs in Oil or Water
Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro do not freeze well on their own. They will turn into a brown, mushy mess. A better way to preserve them is to chop them up. Then, you can place them in an ice cube tray. You should cover them with either water or olive oil and then freeze. You will have perfect, portion-sized blocks of herbs for your next soup or sauce.
10. Label Everything
A frozen, unidentified object in a bag is a mystery that no one wants to solve. You must get into the habit of labeling every single item you put in the freezer. The label should include the contents and the date you froze it. This helps you to use your oldest items first. It also prevents a tragic case of mistaken identity.
11. Keep an Inventory
A freezer that is too full or too empty is not efficient. You should keep a simple inventory list on the outside of the freezer door. When you put something in, you add it to the list. When you take something out, you cross it off. This helps you to remember what you have. It also prevents you from buying duplicates of items you already have
The Art of a Well-Kept Freezer
A well-managed freezer is a powerful tool for any home cook. It is a way to save money, to reduce food waste, and to make your weeknight meals much more convenient. These simple hacks are the key to unlocking the full potential of your freezer. They will ensure that the food you take out is just as delicious as the food you put in.
What is your best freezer hack for keeping food fresh? Let us know your tips in the comments!
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