Freeze Food and Save Money!

Use these great tips from Shelley Elmblad to save space in your freezer and take advantage of those great grocery deals.

One great way to save space in your freezer is to freeze food flat in freezer bags and then stack them. Try freezing fruits and veggies on Large Sheet Pans or Cookie Sheetsand then placing them in freezer bags to keep them from sticking together.

Always make sure the freezer bags are as flat as possible by removing excess air. This can be done with a food saver or by using a straw to suck out as much air as possible.

Get rid of any excess packaging that foods may come in.

Make sure the freezer is always at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, use a Refrigerator Freezer Thermometer if you need to and make sure there is enough room for the cold air to circulate around the items.

Make sure you know what is in there! Always label your items with a sharpie or label maker, listing the contents and date. You could always have an inventory list as well for reference when planning meals and recipes.

Get another freezer if you have too. Chest freezers can be small and compact while offering a large amount of extra space for freezing your grocery store finds.

Freezing Meat, Poultry and Fish

Let's face it, meat is expensive these days! A major place to save money is on the cost of meat considering that most meat, poultry, and fish will be good for up to three months in the freezer. Avoid freezer burn by wrapping meat, poultry, and fish in freezer paper or plastic wrap or use a freezer bag. If you choose to freeze foods in the store wrapping, make sure to wrap them again with plastic wrap as the store wrapping may be compromised in route to your freezer.

Freezing Bakery Items

Breads, cookies and cakes all freeze well. Always use a freezer bag or container that keeps out air to prevent bakery items from tasting dry and stale when thawed. Most breads and unfrosted cakes freeze well for two months, while cookies and frosted cakes stay fresh for up to a year in the freezer.

Freezing Milk and Cheese

Freezing milk can take up a lot of room in your freezer; if you've got that second freezer mentioned earlier you can easily freeze a gallon of your favorite Milk product. Empty out a cap full of the milk to allow the container to expand when frozen. A gallon of milk will keep for up to three months in the freezer. When thawed, shake well and enjoy!

Cheese may become crumbly after freezing, but freezing does not affect the taste. Freeze most cheese for up to three months, but do not freeze cottage cheese. Butter and margarine both freeze well for six to nine months.

Freezing Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Freeze fresh fruit when it is fully ripened so it is not bitter. Always wash the fruit thoroughly before freezing in freezer bags. Fruit becomes mushy when thawed; it is great for smoothies, shakes, and cooking.

Fresh veggies can be frozen, they key is to blanch them first. Fresh, blanched veggies will keep up to eight months in the freezer.

Freezing Fresh Herbs

The best place to save money
when freezing is with fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, and parsley. Fresh leafy herbs like basil, cilantro, and parsley freeze well for up to three months. Place the herbs in freezer bags and freeze. Freezing allows for easy chopping for cooking.

Get Shopping!

Make sure to look for coupons for your favorite foods and scope out the grocery ads weekly. Grocery stores often offer the same sales on a revolving basis and don't forget the seasonal sales on produce!