Foods That Freeze And Reheat Well
Freezing food items is a great way to preserve leftover or huge batches of food. Freezing is great when you need to pre-cook your meals for the holidays or get-togethers. Not only this, but freezing also helps to save time if a dish takes too long to prepare. A lot of food wastage can be prevented if you know the appropriate way to freeze and reheat food.
However, many people are not aware of which food items can be frozen and which cannot be frozen. So, they either end up throwing away the leftovers or using them in other ways. Some people even skip freezing because they think freezing food takes a lot of effort. But that is not the case.
In this article, I am going to share with you the very basic food items that can be frozen easily. And these foods are a mainstay in almost every household. Though many more food items can be frozen effectively, I am going to discuss ten of them in detail.
But before that, let us look at a couple of interesting details of freezing food.
Why Do You Freeze Food?
Freezing is a method of food preservation. It inhibits bacterial growth in food items as frozen foods are kept airtight. It is very crucial to freeze your food properly so that you do not end up spoiling them.
Also, freezing is one of the great ways to store food longer than usual. This means a food item that would have lasted for about a couple of weeks or maybe a month at usual room temperature, can be frozen for 3 months and more under controlled temperatures.
Lastly, frozen food is easier to cook. And if you are freezing cooked food, it saves you time as then you only need to reheat the food and add your favorite seasonings or toppings to munch on them. Therefore, freezing food is an ideal choice if you intend to consume them at a later stage.
What is the best way to Freeze Food?
Freezing food does not need to require any expert knowledge. It is very easy and simple to freeze food items. The only important thing that you need to keep in mind is that you follow the freezing instructions efficiently and wrap your food adequately.
Protecting your food items from freezer burns is necessary because even a brief stay in the freezer can alter the texture and taste of your food. Therefore, it is important to transfer the food to clean airtight containers or freezer bags and seal them tightly before freezing.
Also, if you are freezing cooked food, make sure it is cooled down completely. Another vital aspect of freezing is to remove as much air as possible from the freezing containers. Air contamination might spoil the food; therefore check on these details. Do not forget to label and date the freezing containers.
10 Freezer Friendly Food Items
Perishable and cooked food items are difficult to preserve, especially when they are supposed to be used by dates. But freezing can help store them for longer. Therefore, the next time you see food items approaching their best before dates, put them in the freezer and enjoy them later.
Check out the list of food items here!
Freezing Eggs
Eggs are a common staple in every household. Freezing eggs is an excellent way to preserve them for later use. And this way, they will also last longer than usual. However, do not freeze your eggs in the shell. They should be broken up in a bowl and whisked together almost completely. Then you can put the mix in an airtight container and freeze it.
You can always defrost the frozen eggs and cook them according to your tastes whenever necessary. If you intend to freeze boiled eggs, it is suggested not to do so because boiled eggs tend to get mushy and lose texture once they are frozen.
Freezing Cheese
Cheese is a perishable food item and is therefore expected to be used before an expiry date. Freezing cheese can increase its storage duration. Also, cheese freezes well when it is grated and sealed in airtight containers.
Cheese is sprinkled in so many dishes, from pizzas to baked potatoes, and many other food items. But the cheese can expire when stored in the refrigerator. Therefore, freezing cheese is effective. It also means you always have availability of cheese whenever you need it.
Freezing Bread
Bread is just another staple. But it has an early use-by date. Whether it is homemade or store-bought, bread freezes well. All you need to do is slice your bread into equal pieces, and if there are many, store them in parts. This way you will remove wastage of the food and further, it can be stored longer.
Freezing bread means you have a steady supply of fresh bread available in no time. Make sure it is frozen in airtight freezer bags and does not come in contact with air. And when you wish to consume it, just toss in the butter and munch on it.
Freezing Cooked Rice
Cooked rice freezes well, but make sure to do so as quickly as possible after cooking. Leaving rice at the usual room temperature might spoil it. So, as soon as the rice is cooked and cooled down completely, transfer it into freezer-safe containers and let it freeze.
Frozen rice will last for up to 2 months or more. If you wish to reheat the rice, make sure you let it thaw for some time. Another important point here is if you intend to freeze the prepared rice, cook it to almost 95%. A slight undercooking will freeze better.
Freezing Vegetables
Freezing vegetables is a great way to preserve them from rotting. However, there are two dimensions of freezing vegetables- if they contain water, it is advised to purée, sauté, or stew them before freezing; and if they are cooked, you can freeze them after cooling.
Mushrooms, avocados, spinach, beans, carrots, and broccoli, to name a few freeze well. So before freezing vegetables, make sure you check the freezing requirements for each type. Doing this will avoid unnecessary spoilage of food.
Freezing Fruits
Fruits naturally contain water, so freezing fruits require special care. Though they freeze well, it is ideal to check fruits before freezing. Some fruits may require to be peeled off before freezing. For example, bananas freeze fantastically and can be eaten in so many ways.
Other fruits such as raspberries and blueberries need a slightly different freezing method. Also, fruit salad can be effectively frozen. Therefore, it is essential to predetermine the freezing techniques of fruits to avoid spoilage.
Freezing Cooked Potatoes
You can freeze cooked potatoes very well. Be it store-bought or homemade, they are equally ideal for freezing. Cooked potatoes also reheat well and do not need defrosting always. Freezing is a great way to save your time cooking potatoes every time you wish to have them.
However, make sure you freeze the cooked potatoes only after they are completely cool. If you have a large batch of cooked potatoes, freeze them in parts. But before putting them in the freezer, keep them in the refrigerator for several hours to solidify. This will guarantee better freezing.
Freezing Cakes And Biscuits
Yes, you can freeze cakes and biscuits. Though they are generally cooked beforehand and not served hot, it is easier to freeze them. All you have to do is wrap them adequately with plastic bags before placing them in the airtight container, and then into the freezer.
Freezing cakes and biscuits means you always have them handy. To thaw these food items, put them in a microwave or oven and heat them for a few minutes before consumption.
Freezing Cooked Pasta
Pasta can be made in a variety of delicious ways and therefore freezing pasta depends on the ingredients you put in while cooking them. However, if you intend to freeze pasta, let it remain slightly undercooked, and do not mix in mayo or other creamy ingredients.
Adding mayo and creamy ingredients might alter the pasta’s texture. Without these, cooked pasta freezes very well. It is recommended to freeze slightly undercooked pasta because this will keep them from becoming starchy when reheated.
Freezing Chilies, Herbs, And Seasonings
Chilies, herbs, and other seasonings are available in any kitchen because they act as taste enhancers in any delectable dish. But they do come with an expiry date. Therefore, freezing is an option to use them for longer.
All you have to do is seal them in tightly locked containers properly and freeze them. Make sure they do not come in contact with air inside the freezer. However, some herbs such as basil, chives, and parsley do not freeze well.