Walt Disney is one of many who understand the value of freezing things that you will want to use later.
Those who purchase more food than needed, have leftovers that they don’t want to eat immediately, or believe food prices will continue to rise can benefit from culinary cryogenics.
You may not realize you can freeze several foods for future consumption.
1. Cheese
While frozen cheese will take on a crumbly texture that is not aesthetically ideal, once-frozen cheese is still good to eat. So, next time you see cheddar, Havarti, or your other favorite cheese on sale, feel free to buy it in bulk.
2. Butter
Butter is the not-so-secret ingredient in many of the most delicious dishes. If you find yourself using butter regularly, feel free to freeze a few sticks. You may cut down on trips to the store, as butter is one of those ingredients that cooks tend to burn through rapidly. Regarding margarine, it’s butter to have more than less. Freeze and disregard the expiration date.
3. Spices
How often have you bought lemon pepper to make chicken wings, then found that the spices have expired by the next time you use them? Except for a few essential seasonings, many herbs (dill weed? marjoram?) sit untouched for months, the epitome of wasted money.
If you buy spices by the boatload, freeze most of them, and pull basil and rosemary out of your freezer stash as necessary, you’ll save some serious dough (and spice).
4. Bread
Though modern bread seems oddly mold-proof, even today’s scientifically engineered loaves will go bad eventually. By freezing your bread, you’ll extend its life and be able to make sandwiches until your heart is content.
5. Nuts
Everyone remembers the first time they realized nuts have an expiration date. Biting into a rancid walnut leaves psychological scars that would make Sigmund Freud cower. Or maybe that’s just a me thing? Either way, pop your nuts in the freezer to keep them cool and extend their shelf life.
6. Cooked Beans
Few dishes stand the test of time, like red beans and rice. Black beans and rice are nearly as good. If you want to save money and have ready access to an easy meal, cook your beans in bulk. Then freeze your beans. Keep some instant rice on hand, and stop making excuses for ordering Uber Eats every other night. You’ve got frozen beans!
Related: 21 Lentil Soup Recipes To Keep You Warm and Satisfied
7. Apples
If you enjoy baking apple-infused concoctions, you can chop and freeze your Granny Smiths and Galas. How bout them apples?
8. Lemons and Limes
Whether chicken piccata night or margarita Monday, there are endless reasons to keep lemons and limes handy. The bottled juice isn’t the same, and even that has an expiration date. Hint: freeze whole lemons and limes and thaw them individually. It’s what all the cool chefs are doing, trust me.
9. Baked Goods
Most baked goods, whether cake, banana nut muffins, pie, or otherwise, keep well in the freezer. Considering the effort and mess that baking often entails, you may as well bake an extra-large batch, freeze a sizable portion, and embrace a future of delicious, frozen baked goods.
10. Anything From the Freezer Aisle of the Grocery Store
If a food distributor is making, freezing, and selling a specific item, odds are you can do the same. If you’re ever in doubt about freezing anything, consider whether you’ve seen it in the freezer section of your local grocery store.
If you’re still questioning a food’s freezer-friendly status, do a quick internet search. You’d be surprised how many foods can be frozen with minimal downside.
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This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
