Tips and Tricks for Keeping a Well-Stocked Freezer

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Beyond the basic staples for a healthy freezer, read below for more in-depth tips and tricks for keeping a well-stocked freezer. Although I believe a deep freezer is ideal for more efficient meal prep, optimizing your freezer space no matter how big or small it is, can create a real time-, money-, and sanity-saver. Meat/Seafood

  • Vacuum sealed chicken cuts, ground turkey/beef, and fish fillets in portion sizes that work for you to quickly pull out and thaw for your family.
  • Pre-cut chicken breasts for recipes that call for diced up chicken, then divide it up into freezer-lock containers in the amount needed. This eliminates the mess of raw chicken each time you make those meals.
  • Pre-make family favorites like taco meat or spaghetti bolognese rather than making each batch individually.
  • Keep salmon, turkey, chicken, and burger patties for easy, on-hand items to put on the grill for lunch, dinner, or the unexpected dinner guest.
  • Freeze extra turkey or ham after the holidays to use in a future meal.

Starches and Whole Grains

  • Plain brown rice or quinoa, as well as recipes for items like Mexican and fried rices, can all be batch-cooked and then divided into freezer-safe containers in the amount needed. This eliminates having to use instant products or boil and prepare each time these items are on the menu.
  • Extra sandwich bread, English muffins, hamburger/hotdog buns, or dinner rolls can be stored to prevent from spoiling in between being eaten.

Vegetables

  • Frozen vegetables like: peas, corn, broccoli, and root vegetables (carrots, potatoes) can be used for easy side options
  • Frozen spinach (or freezing any extra fresh spinach) can be added later to everything from smoothies to dips to one-pot pasta recipes
  • Fresh vegetables that may otherwise spoil can be preserved by freezing first
  • Seasonal produce can be flash-frozen and then enjoyed year round
  • Leftover vegetables or pre-cut veggies that went uneaten can all be frozen and combined later as a hodge lodge for items like vegetable minestrone soup.

Fruit

  • Smoothie ingredients like berries, bananas, pineapple, cherries, and mangoes make yummy blends for breakfast or an afternoon snack
  • Frozen bananas make a great base for "nice"-cream on the nights you crave something sweet
  • Pre-cut frozen peaches, cherries, and berries make it easy to throw together a crisp or cobbler on nights you need to make a simple dessert.
  • Uneaten applesauce, canned fruits, and canned pumpkin all freeze well when opened and left unused. Transfer to freezer-safe containers before storing.

Dairy

  • Freeze excess milks and creams that are called for in the occasional recipe but don't get entirely used up. Date and label the amount on a freezer-safe container, then thaw and use in future recipes when buttermilk, whipping cream, half and half, etc are called for.
  • Buy cheese in bulk to save. Pre-shred and save for use on items like build your own pizza, lasagna, homemade macaroni and cheese, etc.
  • Freeze ice cube trays with your preferred dairy or non-dairy milk alternative to add in place of ice for cold coffee drinks.
  • Make your own frozen yogurt and keep in a freezer-safe container to have as a healthy dessert option on hand.

Nuts and Seeds

  • Buy nuts and seeds in bulk and store larger, unused portions in freezer so they last longer.
  • Keep chia, hemp, and flax seeds near your smoothie ingredients for an easy, healthy addition.

Treats

  • Make homemade popsicles and keep frozen. Enjoy as a healthier and less-expensive alternative to store bought varieties all summer long.
  • Freeze batches of cookie dough in individual portions so cookies can be baked individually or in small amounts.
  • Divide up larger servings of pre-cooked items like cookie bars and cakes and freeze to enjoy at later times. This helps lessen the temptation of having a whole batch calling your name from the counter!
  • Make extra crisp/cobbler topping and divide into freezer-safe containers. This can be added on top of any fruit at a later time when you need to prepare a super quick and easy dessert option.

Breakfast Foods

  • Keep shredded potatoes on hand, or prep and pre-roast extra potato hash to lessen the prep time for future frittatas.
  • Store unused cartons of egg whites in freezer to prevent from spoiling.
  • Make extras of whole-grain pancakes, waffles, and french toast to easily toast up on busy mornings.
  • Keep muffins and breakfast cookies in freezer for grab and go breakfast options that are quick to reheat.
  • Save on all-natural breakfast meats by buying items like bacon, sausage, and ham on sale or in bulk. Store in smaller portion sizes to pull out and use as needed.

Herbs and Marinades

  • Batch-cook marinades for recipes your family frequently eats. Store in the amounts needed for single-recipes using freezer-safe containers.
  • Cut up and keep extra herbs in a freezer-safe container to add to upcoming recipes.
  • Blend extra herbs with olive oil, then freezer in an ice cube tray for a flavorful addition that can be used later on.

Premade Meals

  • Prep extra batches of family favorites, then date and label in freezer-safe containers. These can then be cooked up quickly with little to no prep time necessary.
    • Oven-favorites: BBQ chicken, pesto chicken, Asian salmon, fruit cobbler
    • Stove-top favorites: Thai chicken curry with vegetables, spaghetti, ground turkey tacos
    • Crock-pot favorites: chilis, soups, broccoli & beef
  • Keep healthy options on hand for items you won't always be able to make homemade (like all-natural meatballs, salmon burgers, or premade pizza crusts)
Ashley Smith