What foods can/can't you freeze?

Gingernutmeg

Yes, you can, but they'll both go a bit squishy when you defrost them so they'll only be good for cooking, not eating raw. The best way is to freeze them sliced and loose on a baking tray first, so that they stay in pieces rather than in one big lump. If I see cheap peppers at the supermarket I'll always buy them and freeze them like this, they're fine for pizzas and for cooking with.

keelykat

I freeze peppers-but i tend to use them in stir fries or sweet and sour sauce etc. they may be a bit squigy just defrosted and eaten raw.

keely.

Avoriaz

Mushrooms will keep for ages in the fridge in a paper bag.

Even after a week they will be in better condition than if frozen and defrosted.

fifi_folle_2

Can I freeze single cream even if it says not suitable for home freezing on the label? Will it just seperate when thawed out?

Pink.

Hi Foxybabe,

Yes you can freeze both mushrooms and peppers. There are lots of tips on these threads that may help:

Freezing mushrooms

Can I Freeze Peppers???

This thread may be useful too for ideas of what can and can't be frozen:

What foods can/can't you freeze?

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

Pink.

Hi fifi_folle,

I'm afraid single cream doesn't freeze well as it hasn't got a high enough fat content and tends to separate when frozen, unlike double and whipping cream which are fine to freeze provided they're whipped before freezing.

This thread might give you some ideas on how to use it:

how to use up single cream?

Pink

maliah

Hi All,

I've been lucky enough for my mum to give me her chest freezer, never had one before so at moment its empty.

I really want to make the best use of it, but i'm unsure of what to freeze and to be honest i'm not the best cook.
But i really want to start being more old style as i want my family to be healthy but i need to try and work to more of a budget. I feel i waste alot of money on food, as we both work shifts, so can be difficult to cook a full meal that isn't wasted.

Any idea's very welcome, i'm also lucky enough to have a farm shop near by so meat, veg ,pots and fruit are alot cheaper than supermarkets.

thanks again

LeeSouthEast

If you're a busy person, then it's great to cook up batches of stuff then freeze individual portions for later use. Save up the plastic containers chinese takeaways come in, or just go buy a pack of 10 or so at Tesco. If I had the freezer space, I'd make up multiples of 10 or 12 different dishes, label them, and just dip in each night as required! Sadly, I don't. But I have sufficient room for 6 or so, so still do this.

I've just this second posted 2 of my "quick and easy" and "freezer friendly" meal ideas in this thread, but there are loads more in the same thread. You can also get some decent joints of meat as you said, and store them until needed. Just let them defrost overnight somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.

mouseymousey99

Don't forget to check your insurance - any accidents with a freezer full of yummy could be expensive. I 'upped' mine for £1 extra a month - it covers things like leaving the door open accidently. Have fun!
Mx

QueenBeruthiel

Great stuff. I can't remember how I managed w/o a big freezer. A few suggestions:

• Buy bread, rolls, etc. which are reduced just before supermarkets close, and freeze. I go to Morrisons on the way home from the gym. They close at 10 and reduce their bread at 9.00.

• Buy good quality fresh meat in bulk and divide into plastic containers (I use ice cream tubs). Label them: “pork chops end Feb" so you know what you’ve got and how long you’ve had it.

• When cooking a casserole make twice as much as you need – and freeze the rest. You’ll be using the same amount of gas/leccy whether you do a small portion or a large one. Again – label.