what NOT to freeze!

KiWi13

Hoping you all will be able to help me. I've lurked on here and posted the odd thing now and again and I think this is the best place to ask this (although please move its I'm wrong)

In our local Mr Ts the odd time I have found some really good offers in the normal or reduced sections and i think oh i wouldn't be able to use that just yet or oh i don't know if that would freeze properly etc and I know I'm letting a good bargain pass me by because of my ignorance.

I know the basic stuff that can freeze but I think more realistically the list would be shorter if I knew what CANNOT be frozen.

any words of wisdom I will gladly take
thanks

milliemonster

I think most things can be frozen (unless it has been previously frozen and thawed) except things like fresh fruit, some fresh veg, I can't really think of anything else!

Trinny

Hello there

I am not sure how to answer this in a way that will help you most. There are many ways to freeze things which dont normally work.

For example - eggs - you cant freeze fresh eggs in their shell - but if you make them into quiche or a cake (you get the idea) then they will freeze really well.

Same with mushrooms - dont freeze well raw - but if you cook them or make soup out of them then they freeze fine.

There are threads on freezing, thrift lady has a good one on building blocks for the freezer - but as i am no good at doing links - you will need to take a look at the mega index which has a freezer section.

Broadly - all meat, fish, hard cheese, and nearly all vegetables and fruit will freeze ok. You might need to make soup or if its tomato then tomato sauce with what you buy but most basic ingredients can be stored in this way.

Any packaged products will have directions on the pack - but you might get the info you need if you ask about a specific product.

HTH and sorry for the long post

Trin

thriftlady_2

This one Frozen Food Safety might help Trinny.

The building blocks one is here and might be helpful.

There's the quick questions about freezing thread too.

I tend to freeze anything and everything:D

KiWi13

thank you all I really appreciate the help - its hard sometimes to know where to start.
My head kind of gets in a muddle when it comes to all this. (think i make things lot more difficult than it needs to be) I'm a real fussy eater but my husband isn't and I try to sort of meal plan and think ahead to make the most of my time and make money go further so all this will help me to be even better prepared.
onwards and upwards as they say.
:j

Woofles

That's a very good question, I wish my knowledge was more extensive.

For instance my local co-op had some big tubs of cottage cheese reduced (which I use as a substitute when making curd tart) and didn't know if it would freeze or not, no instructions on tub either way.

Did some searching when I got back and apparently it doesn't, but will keep for ages if turned upside down. No I don't why either.

Still I'll know next time.

thriftlady_2

I think you can freeze cottage cheese Woofles. The question is, would you want to eat it after it had defrosted? I'm certain it will not be harmful but the texture have changed making it unusable or unappetising. I think if you wanted to whizz it up with other ingredients in a tart it would be OK. Try it and see.

heynonnynonny

Yesterday I saw a site posted on here with a full and comprehensive search engine on the freezing thing, had A to Z absolutely everything what could be froze and what was best not to freeze. It was ace but I cant find it now to post!!!

Woofles

The consensus of opinion was that it went rubbery, no big deal if your cooking with it but also very watery. I may buy a tub next time if they are reduced and try it, possibly let it drain first which is what I normally do when using to bake with.

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread.

KiWi13

no probs at all woofles - its nice to see others knowing exactly where I'm coming from and you learn things that way too.
the more the merrier.

Olliebeak

I googled 'foods you can freeze' and came up with lots of websites .

This is just one of them: http://www.fillyourmoneybox.com/what-food-and-drink-can-you-freeze-to-save-money/