Of course, you keep things in the freezer. The odd bag of peas or frozen broccoli, maybe even mushrooms, not to mention a huge tub of ice cream. But did you know that by freezing foods, there are so many things you can preserve perfectly?
First of all, you should congratulate me. You have no idea how much I’ve abstained from using a lot of freezing puns uttered by Arnold Schwarzenegger who played the villain Mr. Freeze in ‘Batman and Robin’. As a ridiculous pun-addict, I am very proud of this fact. But that doesn’t mean I can’t use a gif…
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to talking about freezing foods. There are so many more you can do that with. Things that haven’t even crossed your mind. After reading this article, your freezer might seem way too small for all of the things you’ll want to store in it.
7 surprising freezing foods to keep safe
1. Bread
Yeah, you read that right. You can easily keep sliced bread in your freezer for safe keeping. Isn’t it annoying when you buy fresh, fluffy bread and then it gets very crumbly and starts to fall apart? That’s why you can freeze the slices while still fresh. Wrap it in aluminum foil and then place it inside a freezer bag. Then, when you have some bread, thaw it in the oven, unwrapped, directly on the rack, for a few minutes. Bonus: it will be warm and crispy!
2. Wine
If you just can’t bear to have that last glass of wine, but you hate waste, then know you can freeze it for later use in cooking. Just pour the leftovers in an ice cream tray and keep them there until you need to make a lovely wine sauce. Then, just throw the cube in the pan. Also, this trick works with all of the champagne that’s left after a party. What can you do with the frozen champagne? Make champagne-based cocktails like mimosas, of course!
3. Butter
Whenever you’re working with a delicate dough and you don’t want the butter to end up all melty and ruin your pastry or pie, that’s when you open the freezer door and pop out your frozen butter. It’s ideal for the task. All you have to do is grate it in your dough and you’re good to go! (I said I would not use puns, did not mention silly serendipitous rhymes) Keep the butter frozen in an airtight bag or wrapped in foil.
4. Cooked rice
This is one problem of mine that freezing foods really helps solve. I sometimes make way too much rice, because it seems too little before it cooks and absorbs water. So, if you are like me and cook a large pot of rice, know that you can safely freeze it for safekeeping. Store it in a freezer-safe container. How do you then eat it again, you ask? You can either heat it up in a microwave-safe bowl. Or you can do this stove top, in a saucepan, with a little bit of water.
5. Uncooked bacon
I love bacon and I always have some on hand. So I can’t bear to throw it when I leave for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation. That’s why I keep it in the freezer. Just make sure that when you freeze it, you put parchment paper between the pieces, so that you thaw it easily. Then wrap the slices in more parchment paper and place in a freezer bag. The good news? Bacon tends to thaw fast, so you won’t have too long to make your breakfast.
6. Nuts
Have you ever had your beloved nuts go rancid? I have, and it’s not pretty. This happens because of the oils in them, who get past their expiration date. But if you store your nuts in the freezer, in an airtight bag, they will actually keep longer! So don’t be afraid to buy in bulk anymore, because your homemade nut mixes will be safe and sound.
7. Ripe bananas
If your bananas are getting a bit too on the ripe side, fret not! You can make sure they survive a while longer until you’re ready to make that special banana bread recipe or that amazing banana milkshake. Place them in a freezer bag and then remove them from the freezer when you’re ready to go. Until then, here are some other things you can cook with overripe bananas.
