Smart Tips for Stocking Your Freezer

i love this i freeze a lot tof things as well to make meal time easier

We freeze just about everything. If you want to take advantage of in season fruits and veggies, here are a couple of hints. Blanche(throw in boiling water for a few minutes until it just starts to cook) peas, beans, squash and corn. Root veggies do better as pickles unless you are just going to freeze them to use in soups pureed. Berries are great frozen first on a flat surface like a cookie sheet and then put into a bag, they don't stick together and clump as much. Peaches, nectarines, melon(short term only)and apples freeze really well, but I skin and chop them first. We use a food sealer that sucks the air out of the bag which is great for single portions, but use a bigger bag and leave room if you want to reseal the bag for larger amounts. Frozen fresh peaches dipped in brandied chocolate are to die for.

Can you freeze already shredded cheddar cheese that comes in a bag from the store? We use a lot of cheese. When it goes on sale, I would like to buy extra.

I also purchase cheese blocks and shredded cheese. I freeze them and I have had no problems with them.

Tiger is a bore... These are great tips, especially for a family that likes homemade meals but has limited time to cook. Chill out.

I wouldn't suggest freezing cheese or anything dairy other than ice cream. Cheese gets mushy and wet when defrosting. If you get separate bags just don't open them and they should last quite a long time if you have them in the fridge. If it's one of those giant bags. Open it and separate it into smaller ziploc bags, but use glooves and make sure everything you use is serile. Otherwise bateria will mold it pretty fast.

I dont expect to be in the majority here. I dont expect my ideas to be popular. I understand Americans like to eat in unhealthy ways. I understand that this article is from Epicurious, which is about treating food more like entertainment than it is about treating food like a drug, which it is.

I understand that Shine and Epicurious which have professional writers, and can't even spell potatos correctly:

"9. Frozen Potatoes:
Look for organic shoestring, shredded, or crinkle-cut fries or hash browns without additives. You can cook them quickly in the oven or in a skillet and top with "

http://www.capitalcentury.com/1992.html

And I understand that this article is geared towards saving time "when it's at a premium" and storing foods that are in abundance.

Just remember, this is what the article is about, less TIME and the CONVENIENCE of storing bulk items, and the article is NOT designed about providing the healthiest meals.

For me, I dont care so much about the time or convenience; what I care about is what it takes to prepare the healthiest meals. I guess that's still a radical concept in the USA.

Want fast and easier poor food choices at home? Knock yourselves out!

Good point. LittleO. Let's not get petty on spelling and such. Americans have obesity issues because they are OVEREATING and not exercising. Moderation is key with all things. It's ok to be passionate about healthy eating. But understand that Regular families need regular ideas and tips. Grocery shopping is hard enough in itself. With the prices of grocery. You want to get the best and provide the healthiest meal possible. Sorry pasta, rice, beans, etc. are your meal makers. Eatingwell actually has some great ideas for this. You gotta lighten up here. I understand the obesity thing, We are a blessed people in America so much so that we tend to feel entitled to everything. You can easily equate the obesity with the money thing, over indulgence as well but that is not what this post is about.

TIGER, OMG. I actually felt sorry for you because you do seem rather uptight, and I noticed in your original post some spelling errors (including "nutrician"--seriously?). But now you have crossed the line by commenting on SOMEONE ELSE'S "spelling," which was correct to begin with. Um, dear, who told you that the plural of potato is potatos? WOW. wow. Really, WOW.

And to Frantastic, I am not meaning to be "petty" about spelling; I never point out spelling errors unless a person is being a jerk or unless there is irony involved. :-)

The tips are about "stocking up" your freezer. Stocking up. As in storing a lot of. As in eating it frequently.

Moderation, right....I'm not against eating any of these foods ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS. You can do that w/o ever freezing it.

But this is about storing a lot and eating it frequently. If you want to eat frequently pasta, breads and doughs, potatos, and ultra fatty meats like bacon, go right ahead.

And then you'll know why you are like so many other Americans. OBESE!!

"Tiger Is A Bore" your screen name says it all; get off the soap box.

Wow -- you people will fight over anything, won't you? It's an article about what's in a freezer - last I knew, this isn't not a very serious topic. But now it's turning into some huge debate! It's about frozen food!! If you're going to lob insults and impose your thoughts on others lifestyles, why not choose a more relevant and more important topic?

Deb W,

Q: Do you eat anything that actually tastes good??
Yes, everything I eat tastes wonderful. For ideas on what tastes great and what is even healthy for you, try reading a Dr. Sears Zone cookbook.

C: Seriously, you seem a little overboard.
R: Really? My nutrician level is superb. And my fitness level is in the top 5% for my gender/age group.

Can anyone be too healthy???

C: I'm certainly not going to deprive myself of the good stuff!!
R: Your "good stuff" is the stuff that is making an epidemic of obesity in the USA.

If I were you, I'd rething what is "good stuff".

And THAT'S common sense people!

1. MEAT- fish, chicken, beef, pork chops/pork loin, ribs, etc.
2. Fresh peas & corn
3. Breads and bagels
4. Baked goods- cakes, banana bread, fruitcakes, muffins
5. We use our frozen bananas too- for smoothies, and recipes like banana bread!
6. Frozen fruit- any type, esp. berries for milkshakes
7. Mashed potatoes already packaged
8. Frozen lasagna entrees, family size
9. TV dinners, single-serve
10. Bags of pre-mixed frozen veggies, i.e. stir fry type, or soup veggies

Hey guys freezing good food can be a good thing if you do it right, and in the right containers! My mom did it for me and my brother growing up with vegetables and fruits right out of the garden. Soups, jams, etc!

Check out my blog on Tupperware freezer containers. I use them for my kids and family now. They keep food fresh for longer with out the freezer burnt taste.

www.pinkdust3474.com

This are WONDERFUL TIPS. the point is, they are trying to get you to cook more at home, hense more healthier meals for your family. Especially as the school year begins and our schedules become more hectic. It is nice to have meals on hand. Just curious but it seems like people who get on their soap boxes about food have issues with food. It becomes the boogey man. And I wonder if those people have families to cook for other than themselves, heck if it was just me, me and my hubby, or me and a cat or something, I could devote all my time to exercise and eating a string bean and a carrot. Don't knock the families who are trying to maintain lifestyles that yes we have chosen to live. I for one am trully thankful for the tips. Trying to feed 3 growing teen boys and a husband (18,19,15).

To the person who asked about freezing shredded cheese--I used to work at a pizza restaurant, and we had boxes of shredded cheddar that was kept in the freezer until ready to use. It came out perfectly fine, not mushy, etc. I haven't actually tried this at home, but it worked at the restaurant.

Very Ripe Bananas:For an instant protein-rich smoothie.... um.. bananas aren't protein-rich. And who eats soy except post-menopausal women?

I buy huge amounts of all kinds of shredded, sliced, cubed, etc. cheese and don't have any problems. Those rotesserie chickens freeze really well too.

These are some excellent ideas. Also to increase the shelf life of a number of common household uncooked foods (rice, pasta, flours, legumes) you can place them in the refridgerator or freezer - you can buy in bulk and have them stay edible longer. I have tried the cooked pasta freezing, it worked however the pasta tasted pasty. So it may be a better option to cook the pasta when you are ready to prepare.

Lastly, sometimes it is just good to ignore some people on these blogs. Take the information that is in the article and utilise - don't bother with persons who you know are just looking for attention.