Wasted food is wasted money. Your freezer is the key to saving ingredients that might otherwise go to waste. All you need is an inexpensive ice cube tray and resealable plastic freezer bags. Make sure to choose storage bags designed for the freezer and not ordinary sandwich bags.
Buy a separate ice cube tray to freeze food since you don’t want the taste getting into your ice cubes. I like soft silicone models. They’re easy to store and it’s easy to release the cubes.
Egg Whites
If you have leftover egg whites after separating eggs, drop them straight into a freezer bag. Not only do they freeze beautifully but thawed egg whites actually make a fluffier meringue.
Use a marker to indicate how many whites you’ve added to the bag or freeze them first in an ice cube tray and put the cubes in a bag for easy measuring. Thaw before using, but never try to speed that process along with heat or the microwave. You’ll end up with scrambled eggs.
Ginger
Fresh ginger adds a kick to many dishes but it’s difficult to use a whole root before it starts to shrivel. Just pop the whole root in a freezer bag. Take it out to cut off or grate what you need. There’s no need to thaw. Pro tip - If you’re using a rasp grater, you don’t even need to peel it.
Tomato Paste
When a recipe calls for a tablespoon or two of tomato paste, you’re stuck with the rest of the can. Try spooning it a tablespoon at a time onto a baking sheet to freeze. Once they’ve frozen solid, store them in a resealable freezer bag. You can also spoon them into a silicone ice cube tray. First, fill a section with water a tablespoon at a time to figure how much it holds. That way you’ll know just how much is in each cube. I’ll warn you, tomato paste will stain ice cube trays. When you need a tablespoon or two of tomato paste just pop a cube or spoonful out of the bag.
Nuts
Nuts are a delicious high-protein, low-carb snack. They also spoil pretty quickly. Extend the shelf life of nuts and seeds by storing them in a freezer bag or a resealable freezer-safe container. Thanks to their high-fat content, nuts resist freezer burn. As a bonus, there’s no thawing time required. Use them straight from the freezer.
Bananas
If you’ve got a bunch or just one banana that’s close to the point of no return, peel it and pop it in the freezer. Leave them whole to enjoy as a delicious frozen snack. Slice bananas and arrange the slices on a baking sheet to freeze for use in smoothies, banana ice cream, or other treats. Once they’ve frozen solid, pop them in a resealable freezer bag.
Now that you’ll be using your freezer more often, it could be time to think about upgrading to a larger or more energy-efficient model. Appliance Center has a large selection of refrigerators with a variety of freezer options as well as stand-alone freezers. Many models are in-stock and available for same-day or next-day delivery.