Meal building blocks for the freezer

cw18

Cheese - yep, it freezes fine. Some I grate before freezing, then allow to defrost just enough to be able to sprinkle before using as a topping - or to totally defrost (which doesn't take long) before using in a sarnie. Blocks obviously take longer to defrost the bigger they are, but I also find a mature cheddar crumbles rather than slices after freezing (personally something I like, as it removes the need to wash the grater :rolleyes2 )


Chillies I've not tried, but I freeze peppers so would imagine the same principal. I used to chop small before freezing, but now I just slice - and if I need it chopped I do that almost as soon as I pull it out of the freezer (easier to to, with less staining on the fingers!)

Rice I've never tried - and have no intention of doing. It doesn't take that long to cook, and I can save the freezer space for other things that I can't keep in a cupboard. I rarely cook too much anyway, but if I do I have two dogs will scoff it (and it's cheaper than dog treats, especially as the larger dog is on a hypo-allergenic diet so can only have very specialised bought chews etc)

zippychick

I have reheated HM savoury rice, and made it into egg fried rice. Wouldn't personaly freeze it though. I think you are not supposed to keep it too long before reheating - a day or two.

I have froze chillies, chop frozen, bung in.

Edit - food standards rice information

WASHER

Thanks to you both, another question if I may, if I freeze peppers chopped, do I just freeze them uncooked or do I freeze them cooked or in water? Stupid questions I know, but really my mother always taught me to cook from scratch each night, she would never have frozen anything for fear of food poisoning.(I still don't think she owns a freezer!)

cw18

I freeze peppers (and mushrooms) uncooked.

Brocolli, carrots and cauliflower I blanche before freezing.

Westywoodpecker

I've only just thought of freezing peppers as they were so cheap at Aldi recently. My mother said she has frozen them successfully so that's good enough for me

lindadykes

Frozen chillis chop easily without any defrosting.

mama67

I often chop and freeze peppers as is, then just throw a handful into whatever I'm cooking.

Mayday

Love this thread

mrssnowy wrote: »

Having read all these great tips and there are some that I haven't done, makes me wish I had a bigger freezer. Made the mistake of having an upright ......

When we moved we had to sell our 10 cu ft chest freezer and replace with a small under counter upright type - and I hate it as there's never enough room.

Am investigating the garage tomorrow and a chest freezer for Christmas!

bunny_too

Hi to everyone, what a great thread.

I buy puff pastry and cut it into 1/4s, makes a nice big size savoury mince pastie.

Freeze slices of lemon, to just pop into G&Ts;);)

Make up scones to bake from frozen for quick snack if friends drop in.

Freeze double cream in ice cube trays,1-2 lumps for adding to sauces.

I also put frozen iced maderia cake straight into my lunch box. most of my traybakes for son's lunches are frozen.

Thriftladys building blocks are such a good idea, i have saved so much time and money by using her system, brill.:T

Freeze hm thin pancakes for my savoury recipes, just put cut up greaseproof between them.

:j

Mayday

thriftlady wrote: »

Hi Mellika,

For a basic crumble to feed about 6 I use 8oz flour, 4oz butter and 3oz sugar;) I would probably triple (at least) that for the freezer.

You can always add porridge oats to your crumble mix to make it more crunchy. Just add after the breadcrumb stage.