EVERYONE is feeling the squeeze at the moment and cutting down the cost of your food bill is a great place to start.
The average household throws away 1.96kg of food per day which risks adding up to a staggering £720 a year spent on food waste.
Meanwhile, 3 out of 4 people admit that the cost of food is a major concern as the cost of living has increased the price of supermarket necessities by 17.4% in the past year.
With that said, Richard Price, Director of online supermarket Britsuperstore, hasrevealed the surprising things you can freeze- which will save you up to £720 a year.
Potatoes – Can Be Frozen For 10-12 Months
You can freeze both cooked and uncooked potatoes but make sure that cooked potatoes have cooled down before freezing them.
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While whole potatoes need to be thawed before cooking, mashed and roast potatoes don’t require defrosting; you can simply cook them straight from frozen when you need them.
Carrots, Mushrooms and Broccoli – Can Be Frozen For 8-12 Months
The frozen life varies between vegetables and their best-by date, however, in general, carrots, mushrooms and broccoli have a significantly longer shelf life when frozen.
As mushrooms have a high water content of 92%, it is better to freeze mushrooms cooked or combined into another meal. Store the vegetables in a freezer bag or Tupperware container before placing them in the freezer.
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Cheese – Can Be Frozen For 6-9 Months
Before buying cheese, remember it is cheaper to buy a block of cheese than it is pre-grated. This is because with pre-grated, you are also paying for someone else’s labour.
Instead, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself with a cheese grater. Simply place the grated cheese in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer.
Milk – Can Be Frozen For 6 Months
Milk can be frozen but during the freezing process will expand slightly, meaning that if you are using glass milk bottles, the liquid needs to be placed in a plastic container.
Make sure there is still enough room in the container for the milk to expand.
Tomatoes – Can Be Frozen For 6 Months
Tomatoes are best frozen chopped or as a liquid. Use a food processor or blender to purée or chop tomatoes. Seal these into a container then place them in the freezer.
Cooked Rice – Can Be Frozen For 6 Months
Make sure to freeze rice as soon as possible after cooking to prevent the formation of bacteria and keep it safe to eat. Once the cooked rice has cooled, store it in a microwavable container or inside Tupperware and place it straight into the freezer.
Make sure to thoroughly reheat it so that it is hot enough to eat safely.
Bananas – Can Be Frozen For 6 Months
Once you peel off their skin, you can freeze bananas by slicing them up and placing them in an airtight container or bag before placing them in the freezer.
Bread – Can Be Frozen For 4-6 Months
Simply wrap a couple of slices of bread each into cling film to make sure large chunks don’t stick together. If you are using a whole loaf of bread, it is still a good idea to slice it and place several pieces each in plastic wrap before freezing.
You should avoid placing crusty bread like French baguettes in the freezer because it can come apart after freezing, so it is best to eat it soon after it is bought.
Cooked Pasta – Can Be Frozen For 3 Months
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Before freezing cooked pasta, let it cool for a while and drizzle it with olive oil to keep it from sticking together in the freezer.
Pasta that is slightly undercooked is the best for freezing and it avoids turning starchy when you reheat it.
FOODS THAT DON’T FREEZE WELL
- Basil, chives and parsley
- Yoghurt and sour cream
- Soft cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese
- Mayonaise
- Lettuce
TOP TIPS FOR FREEZING FOOD
- Make sure the food reaches room temperature before freezing
- Never refreeze meat that has been frozen and thawed before
- Try to freeze the food at its freshest, either when it was just bought or just cooked
- Make sure that the freezer isn’t full so that air can circulate”
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