Freeze Green Beans for Stir FryingWhen we first started getting green beans from the garden, I did not have enough to fill the canner so I froze them. If they are small and tender, they are so good stir fried in a little olive oil, salt and garlic powder.
Freezing Sweet PotatoesLast Fall, I experimented with freezing different vegetables. My aim was to cook food ahead and have individually frozen portions ready to thaw, heat and serve. My carrots and baby Lima beans turned out well. I am especially pleased with my sweet potatoes.
Freeze Excess ZucchiniThis time of the year zucchini is all around. You may find that you have too much of it. You may also have some zucchini that was hidden and grew too big to be flavorful. You don't have to waste any of it!
Freezing Corn in a PillowcaseDo not hesitate to stock up on corn when there is a sale. Corn can be frozen, in the husks, in a pillowcase. Load up the pillowcase, fold the top over so it is closed, and place in the freezer. It will stay as fresh as the day it was picked.
Freezing AvocadosAvocados do not last long, and you can freeze them to take advantage of sales.
Freeze Surplus TomatoesIt seems that tomatoes all ripen at the same time. If you know you cannot use your tomatoes before they go bad, freeze them whole in a freezer bag. They can be used for cooking or making sauce. When you are ready to use them, run them under hot water and their skins will peel right off. Use the skins for tuna melt sandwiches.
Freeze Small Tomatoes WholeWith the abundance of produce coming out of our garden I was thrilled to read that you may freeze small tomatoes whole to use in recipes through out the year!
Shred Zucchini for the FutureIf you have too much zucchini, shred them in the food processor and freeze for the future. I freeze mine in half cup portions. You can use them in baking or cooking. They can also be substituted for pumpkin purée or applesauce.
Freezing String BeansIn the past, I only canned string beans until I found that they are also good frozen. The taste and texture is different but they are really good sauted in a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Freezing Red PotatoesWe planted a row of red potatoes in our garden. I finished digging them up and prepared them for freezing. This is my first time freezing potatoes. I'm hoping to use them in several different recipes. Wish me luck.
Resealing Frozen VegetablesWhen I open a bag of corn, I use my scissors and cut across the top of the bag, leaving enough that I can use it to tie my bag up with it. The other thing I use is leftover twisty ties.
Onion Snow from Frozen OnionsWhen I cook, I love onion but not in large pieces or strips. None of the kids I know like them that way either. When the Vidalias are in season, I buy several and freeze them whole.
Coffee Filter for Freezing Chopped Bell...Where I live, bell peppers can be rather expensive. I buy them only when they are on sale. I wash them, chop them, then spread them on a cookie sheet.
Freezing and Using ZucchiniIn July or August it is best to keep your car doors locked or you are apt to end up with a backseat full of oversized zucchini. My solution is both simple and thrifty. For the giant ones, de-seed (using a spoon), peel if necessary, shred with a food processor, and store in two cup amounts.
Freeze Sliced BeetsWhile reading the solutions to the question about freezing cooked beets, I realized I could freeze them like I do fresh berries.
Freeze Bell Peppers HalvesI slice peppers in half, remove the seeds and then freeze peppers on a cookie sheet. After they are frozen, I place in a freezer bag. Using a straw, I suck all the air out of the bag.
Freezing Bell PeppersI do not know how to dry bell peppers, but I will tell you what I do. If I purchased more than I need at the time I just cut them up (red, yellow, and green), cut up an onion, and fry them with a little olive oil.
Freeze Baked Sweet Potatoes in FoilSweet potatoes actually freeze well. I prick them a few times with a fork, then put them in a baking pan and cover it with foil. I roast them at 350 degrees F until they are fully cooked.
Freezing Sweet PotatoesWe raise sweet potatoes in our garden. The smaller ones and the ones we cut while digging, I scrub and drop into a large pot and cover with water and boil until they are done.
Cook Sweet Potatoes Before FreezingI bake them and mash them prior to freezing. I can use them in a casserole or to make pies. For pies I measure the amount needed and freeze in a Ziploc bag.
Store Measured Servings Of Frozen FoodsMy husband and I were preparing to cook a bag of frozen peas, and decided we didn't want to use the whole 1 pound bag. My husband pulled out a 1 quart freezer bag to put the original bag of peas in before using any.
Use Muffin Tins to Freeze Shredded ZucchiniWhen you've shredded zucchini to freeze, use your muffin tins! Simply lightly pack each hole with the shredded zukes. Cover with plastic wrap if desired and put your muffin tins into the freezer until solid.
Freeze Sauteed Veggies For Quick Cooking LaterIf you think about it, a lot of recipes start the same way, sauteing onions with, depending on the cook, garlic, celery, carrots, or peppers. You probably have your own preference that you use more than any other.
Freeze Vegetables for Stir FryStock up on day-old red and green peppers on sale or celery, onions, or other veggies. Chop them up and freeze them to use later. You can do the same thing with any vegetable you've bought that seem to be "on the turn".
Freeze Garlic and PeppersI have found that garlic freezes beautifully. Thawed, it is just as good as fresh, but is soft. That works fine for me; I chop it a little, and it breaks down into the food nicely, especially if it is a long-cooking food like soup or stew.
Freezing Corn on the CobThis may be a little early in the season, but as I used the last of my corn from the freezer for dinner tonight, it reminded me to share this with everyone. Over the years, I have tried many times to freeze corn on the cob. Most instructions say to blanch and cool.
Freeze Blended Celery and OnionsI don't use a lot of onions or celery, so I found them going bad before I could use them. It's much more expensive to buy smaller quantities, you are just paying for someone else to do the chopping when you buy it already cut up.
Store Fresh Ginger in FreezerI love to make Asian food, and I like to make it with fresh ginger. I found if I blanch the root in boiling water, peel it using the edge of a spoon, then freeze the chunk in a zip lock bag, I have fresh ginger whenever I want.
Use Frozen Peeled GarlicI love cooking with garlic, but do not like peeling it. So my answer is to buy it in the bag already peeled. I keep the bag in my freezer and when I need garlic, I remove a clove from the bag.
Freezing ChilesWhen using part of a can of chipotle chiles with adobo sauce, simply spread the remainder into a quart size Ziploc bag, and freeze flat in the freezer. When frozen, simply break off what is needed for your recipe, and refreeze.
Buy and Freeze Corn In SeasonI just got finished cutting some corn off the cob and thought I'd share my thoughts on that. I have gotten to the point where, when it is on sale, I buy a few more ears of corn than we can eat at one time and cut it off the cob to freeze for later.
Freezing CelerySelect crisp, green, tender stalks, free from coarse strings. The ribs should be firm and rigid, snapping crisply when broken in half. Wash thoroughly, trim and cut stalks into l-inch lengths. Stalks can also be left whole for tray freezing.
Make Extra Baked Potatoes to FreezeWhen I bake my potatoes, I always make extra to freeze. I scrub them well and dry; pierce them and wrap in tightly in foil. Any leftovers are cooled in the foil, then bagged in a freezer bag.
Prep and Freeze Veggies for Scrambled EggsI like to freeze chopped bell peppers, in little sandwich bags to put in eggs when I make them.
Mash and Freeze Sale PotatoesI buy potatoes when they are on sale. Then I boil them, mash them, and seal them in serving size containers and put them in the freezer. It's so nice to be able to just take out as much as I need and microwave it.
Storing Sweet CornRemove corn from the cob and blanch them. Cool and store in airtight container and freeze.
Freezing Whole TomatoesAll we do with them is rinse them off and blot dry, Put in Ziploc bags and freeze. To use them, I drop into hot liquid, and use my Chinese spider strainer to pull out of broth, slip off skins and core or not.
Puree and Freeze Excess VegetablesIf you have an excess of carrots, or some that are wilting, cut them in slices and boil until tender. Then puree them in your blender, using a bit of the water. Freeze the puree in ice cube trays and use it as baby food, or as a substitute for pumpkin in muffins, etc.
Freeze Bell PeppersWhen sweet peppers are on sale, I buy different colored ones, chop them up and freeze them on a cookie sheet. When frozen, I put them in a freezer container.
Freeze Chopped OnionsWhat to do with all those bulk onions? I almost always buy my onions in the 3 lb. bags, but used to end up on the losing end when half of them went bad. I've found a solution to that!
Reusing Plastic Water BottlesI try not to purchase bottled water but sometimes I forget my water mug. I wondered about what I could do with them since the apartment building I live in doesn't have recycling bins and and I have no room to store them.
Making Frozen French FriesYou can make frozen French fried potatoes at home. The mealy type potato is best. Use mature potatoes you have stored for at least 30 days.
Freeze Excess Veggies To Prevent SpoilageI became tired of throwing away green and red peppers because they either didn't get used or started to go bad. Now I chop them up or cut into strips and put them in freezer bags to take out anytime I need some.
Freeze Whole TomatoesIf you have too many tomatoes from your garden, put them in a brown paper bag and put them in your freezer. When you are ready for your favorite tomato recipe, just take them out and run them under cold water.
Divide Large Canned Goods Into Smaller ServingsAs expensive as canned vegetables have gotten, I find it better to buy one super large can and divide portions into small size zip bags for freezing.
Repackage Frozen Veggies in Smaller PortionsI buy frozen vegetables in the bags. Then when I get home I divide the veggies into the proportion size I want and put them into a sealed container.
Using Fruits and Veggies Before They Go BadUsing Fruits and Veggies Before They Go Bad. I have several ideas for using fruits and veggies before they go bad. Onions, bell pepper, celery, other veggies I can use in a recipe, I chop, then store in the freezer in a ziplock freezer bag. . .
Freezing Water ChestnutsA Guide to Freezing Water Chestnuts. To select good water chestnuts, look for firm, hard-shelled tubers that are free from insect damage and bruising.
Freezing PotatoesCooked potatoes make the best candidates for freezing. Raw potatoes can be frozen with mixed results, but may develop a watery or grainy texture during freezing.
Freezing Green BeansA Guide to Freezing Green Beans. Select young tender pods when the seed is first formed.
Freezing PeasA Guide to Freezing Green Peas. Harvest when pods are filled with young, tender peas that have not become starchy. Peas should be harvested and processed as quickly as possible after pods are full to retain the sweetest flavor.
Freezing LeeksLeeks look like giant scallions, only with bulbs that are straight and cylindrical. Look for crisp, fresh, dark green leaves and stalks that are firm and pliable.
Freezing GreensA Guide to Freezing Greens. Select young, tender green leaves. Leaves on greens like spinach should be at least 6 inches long to harvest; they can be as long as 10 inches on other greens (chard). Harvest early in the day before heat from the sun causes greens to become limp.
Freezing EggplantsFreezing eggplants will severely alter their texture, but is still useful for some recipes. Harvest eggplants before seeds become mature and when color is uniformly dark.
Freezing CauliflowerIn general, cauliflower does not freeze well. Freezing it will preserve its flavor, but tends to severely break down its texture. Still, frozen cauliflower may be useful in some recipes-especially those using puree.
Freezing Brussels SproutsA Guide to Freezing Brussels Sprouts. Brussels sprouts can be added to dishes for cooking directly from the freezer without thawing.
Freezing CabbageA Guide to Freezing Cabbage. Cabbage can be brined as sauerkraut or made into coleslaw or relishes and frozen. Whole leaves can be frozen unblanched for use as wrappers for baking or stuffing, and used immediately after thawing. Cabbages should not be frozen whole.
Turn Fresh Tomatoes Into Quick & Easy...Most of us know that planting a garden is one of the cheapest ways to provide your family with fresh vegetables. My husband is the chief gardener in our household, and since it is his domain, he gets to decide what to plant.
Keeping Chopped Onion on HandI chop an onion and keep it in the freezer inside a ziplock bag that is inside a freezer bag...
Cleaning Harvested Carrots for Blanching and FreezingWhen preparing a lot of carrots for blanching and freezing, brush off as much dirt as possible, fill an old pillow case with carrots, tie it with string and use the rinse cycle in your washer to clean them...
Save Money By Roasting Your Own PeppersIf you like roasted red peppers, but not the cost (the average jar runs around $3 and if you check, it only has about one pepper in it). At the end of summer when they are really cheap, about .99 lb or so, there is what you do...
Save Money by Freezing VeggiesVeggies on sale? Buy a lot and freeze them. Your freezer can be your best friend when trying to save money on your food bills.
