If your freezer is a jumbled mess of half-empty ice cream containers, open bags of frozen vegetables, stacks of ice cube trays, and some unidentified item covered in frosty freezer burn, then it's time to make a change. There are certain foods to keep in your freezer that may never cross your mind when you think about typical frozen foods. At the same time, there are some great frozen goods that can be spruced up for easy, fast meals.
Taking advantage of your freezer is a great way to have a backup supply of food when you don't have access to freshly purchased items. There are so many foods that freeze well and can then last for weeks, if not months, which is typically a whole lot longer than they would last in the refrigerator. Professional chefs actually rely on freezers to keep a stock of basic necessities at the ready. Here, chefs reveal the one thing they think you should always have in your own freezer.
1. Poultry
It's never a bad idea to freeze a few pieces of chicken, which can safely be stored in there for about four months. "The most important staples I keep in my freezer are boneless, skinless chicken breasts," Chef Shelley of Chef In The Burbs tells Woman's Day. "It's a good lean protein and extremely versatile." Defrosting chicken is faster than other pieces of meat, and you can then throw it into almost any type of dish.
2. Bananas
Bananas can go from not-so-ripe to overripe pretty quickly. Once that happens, you have two choices: you can either bake or cook with them right away, or you can freeze them, and the second option may be the best.
"When bananas become too ripe or brown for your personal taste, the best thing to do with them is to peel them, ziplock bag them, and save them in the freezer for later use," Jessica Randhawa, the head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer behind The Forked Spoon, tells Woman's Day. "Ripe frozen bananas are a perfect ingredient to make healthier waffles/pancakes, banana bread, or a strawberry banana smoothie."
3. Avocado
Avocados are another fruit that can get way too ripe way too fast - and once they're ripe, they have an even shorter shelf life than bananas. So, once they're ready to be eaten, freeze them. "Frozen avocado chunks are great to keep on-hand," Chef Mee McCormick, author of My Pinewood Kitchen, tells Woman's Day. "You can add these to smoothies or whip up a chocolate avocado mousse for a healthier take on dessert." You can also let them thaw and then use them for avocado toast.
4. Butter
"I freeze salted and unsalted butter in bulk, as I go through a lot of it, and if others do too, it’s a great thing to freeze and then you never run out of it," Jessie Sheehan of The Vintage Baker tells Woman's Day. She adds that you can freeze butter for up to four months.
5. Seafood
If you buy fresh seafood and don't feel like using it right away, you can always freeze it. Chef Cary Taylor of RealGood Farm Box recommends storing raw, peeled, deveined shrimp, telling Woman's Day, "the shrimp thaw super quick and make for one of the most versatile proteins. They cook quickly as well which makes them a champion of the 30-minute weeknight dinner."
6. Crusty Bread
Sure, there's nothing like a soft, fresh piece of bread. But if you're worried about not using it right away, you can freeze it for up to six months. "After slicing the end off a loaf, I wrap bread in the paper it came in, then in a plastic bag, squeeze the air out, tie with a twist tie and freeze," Chef Bruce Hill, owner of The Chef's Press, explains to Woman's Day. "The frozen bread can be thawed by placing it cut-side down on a warm griddle, then slice off a slice at a time. Frozen bread also can be made into breadcrumbs, which are handy for meatballs."
7. Cooked Grains
You probably don't even think about freezing your cooked grains, but it's a great way to make a meal in a flash. "I always have pre-portioned bags of cooked grains such as rice, quinoa, and farro in the freezer," Lauren Shockey, a trained chef and author of the recent cookbook Hangover Helper, tells Woman's Day. "They freeze and defrost beautifully, which is a huge timesaver, especially for grains with long cooking times. I'll use them to make easy grain salads for lunch or have ready-to-go rice for making fried rice. I'll also portion them into ice cube trays so I can have grains at a moment's notice for my toddler's meals."
8. Frozen Berries
Not every fruit will do well in the freezer, but berries definitely do. "I am a big fan of frozen berries," Shockey says. "Often the quality will be just as good as fresh berries (especially when berries are out of season) as frozen produce tends to be picked at its peak. Frozen berries are great for making pies or scones or an easy smoothie."
9. Lime or Lemon Juice
If you use limes and lemons often, then freezing the juice is a good way to ensure you always have it when you need it. Chef Marie Surakul, head chef of Bamboo inside Pechanga Resort Casino, recommends squeezing out the juice and storing it in ice cube trays. "You’ll gain the ability to have pre-made juice, sauce and pastes at the ready just before you begin cooking," he tells Woman's Day.
10. Herbs
Fresh herbs can hang out in your freezer for up to a year without going bad. That means that the over-abundance of basil you grew during the summer can easily be stored and then used in the middle of the winter. Mitch Prensky, an award winning Chef and seasoned culinary professional, tells Woman's Day he chops up fresh herbs and then portions them out in ice cube trays. "These are great for adding to a sauce or making a dressing," he explains. "They are pre-portioned and stay fresh forever."
11. Frozen Peas
Qhy go to the trouble of shelling fresh ones if you don't need to? "They are great to have stocked in the freezer, especially when you're running low on your fresh veggie options," Claudia Sidoti, Principal Chef at HelloFresh, tells Woman's Day. "Peas are so versatile — they're great for quick and easy pasta and rice dishes and are a must have in pot pies and a variety of comforting casseroles dishes. They also make a pretty simple and tasty side dish when tossed with butter, herbs and a squeeze of lemon."
12. Bacon
While many meats will only last about four months in your freezer, bacon can last up to six months. And Chef Jennifer Scism, chef and co-founder of Good To-Go, has the best method for storing it. "I lay it onto a sheet tray lined with plastic wrap. Freeze it until it is good and hard, an hour or so. Then wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap and pop it into a freezer bag," he tells Woman's Day. "The pieces are separate so you can pull out what you need and will defrost quickly. So easy and so good."
13. Broth
Homemade broth is delicious and extremely versatile. Unfortunately, it only lasts about a week in your fridge. But in the freezer, it can stay good for at least six months. "Having some chicken or vegetable broth on hand can help any time you're in the mood for soups and sauces — and it never hurts to kick things up a notch when sautéing veggies either," Steph Young, founder and writer at CampingCooks.com, tells Woman's Day.
14. Ginger Root
Tasty and spicy, fresh ginger root is a wonderful addition to everything from meals to smoothies to teas. Jess Dang, founder and chief kitchen cheerleader of Cook Smarts, tells Woman's Day that everyone should have it in the freezer, adding that "it's so much easier to grate when it's frozen, too." She suggests storing it in an airtight container or freezer bag with the air squeezed out. "When you need to use some, simply peel and grate the portion you need and put the rest back in the freezer."
15. Pesto
Spend some time whipping up a huge batch of fresh pesto, then freeze it so that you can enjoy it for months to come (it can last in the freezer for up to six months). "It freezes perfectly, and is standing at the ready for your next pasta, grilled chicken, or burrata recipe," Chef Dennis Prescott of Netflix's Restaurants On The Edge, tells Woman's Day. He recommends portioning the pesto into ice cube trays so you can easily pop them out and use small amounts at a time.
16. Shiitake Mushrooms
You've probably never thought about freezing mushrooms to use for later, but why not? They freeze well and are a great addition to most recipes, like soups and stews, according to McCormick. To freeze, "just place mushrooms on a parchment-lined tray and place in freezer until they are frozen. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight reusable freezer bag," McCormick says.
17. Ground Meat
Chicken certainly isn't the only protein you can freeze."Ground beef is super versatile, perfect for burgers, sloppy Joes, meatloaf, or hearty chili, Bron Lindsey, executive chef at Adele's in Nashville, tells Woman's Day.
Ground turkey is also a wonderful poultry to freeze for later use. "I typically use it to make breakfast patties for my kids, add it to pasta sauces, and of course, taco night" chef Scarleth Aguilar at Siete Family Foods tells Woman's Day.
18. Pie
All of the fruits, veggies, and proteins are great, but what about something sweet? Pie is a wonderful dessert staple to have in your freezer. "You never know when company might pop by, so a chocolate or lemon ice box pie is never a bad idea," Lindsey says."You can turn on your oven and have it thawed in no time at all."
19. Frozen Pizza
Don't write off boxes of frozen pizza as a college student staple. It's easy to spruce it up for a quick, delicious meal. "My favorite frozen food staple has to be pizza — plain cheese, because I can add any of my own toppings," chef Hunter Evans of Mississippi-based Elvie’s tells Woman's Day. "One of my favorite last minute brunch meals is take a frozen pizza, bake it about half way then add some sautéed mushrooms and crack a few eggs on top and keep baking. Quick and delicious."
20. Vanilla Ice Cream
Forget about the fancy ice creams for a moment: everyone should have good old fashioned vanilla ice cream in their freezer. Bridge Lancaster, host of America's Test Kitchen, tells Woman's Day, "it's great to eat as-is, but it can easily be gussied up to make an impromptu dessert. Pour a shot of espresso or your favorite liqueur over a scoop. Make 'homemade' ice cream sandwiches with your favorite cookies. Top a hot waffle with fruit (grilled peaches are great), or a thick, griddled piece of banana bread with a scoop or two." Our mouths are watering.
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