Yogurt freezing advices? How to Freeze Just About Anything? Depending on the size of your freezer and the types of food you eat, freezing food and meals can be a real time-saver. Before you throw things in your freezer, however, stock up on some of these essentials: resealable plastic containers, plastic freezer bags in assorted sizes, heavy foil, plastic wrap and a Sharpie or marker for dating when food went in the freezer. Whether you have a deep freezer or a standard freezer, the principles of freezing food items are the same. Here are some things you can freeze and specific tips for how to do so.
Leave a little extra room for liquids: You can also freeze soups, sauces and stews in airtight containers. Liquids expand so you’ll want to fill freezer bags and containers only three-quarters of the way, so they don’t explode. Freeze fruits and vegetables: Freezing seasonal fruits and veggies is great, especially this time of year. Freezing your fresh garden veggies now will allow you to use them all year long. Same with in-season fruits, which are sweeter and perfect to add to your smoothies. Casseroles can be frozen either cooked or uncooked, but it’s a bit better to freeze uncooked or partially cooked casseroles as opposed to freezing fully cooked casseroles.
Yogurt – Yogurt tubes are great to freeze and they keep the same consistency! Yogurt bites are great to freeze for teething babies and toddlers. However, if you freeze it in the container, it can sometimes change consistency. We like to use it in our smoothies and add it to our smoothie packs for easy mornings! Milk – Yep, you read that right! We recommend freezing it in an ice cube tray if you’ll just need a few tablespoons at a time to cook with. You can also freeze in 1-cup increments in a freezer baggie if you have recipes that call for that amount. You can even freeze it by the gallon! Just thaw it slowly and shake it up a lot while it’s thawing. Heavy Cream – This lasts for a long time in the fridge, but you can also freeze it! Freeze it the same way you do milk. Find extra information at Can You Freeze Watermelon.
That said, the USDA recommends these steps: If a food has been thawed in the refrigerator safely, you can refreeze it, as long as it’s within three to four days since thawing. Food that was thawed and then cooked is safe to refreeze. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the fridge for longer than two hours. If you’re in temperatures above 90 degrees F, the USDA puts that time window at one hour. Previously frozen meat, poultry, or fish purchased from the store can be refrozen as long as it’s been handled safely and hasn’t been at room temperature for more than that two-hour period. With safety procedures and good habits in place, you can make the most of your freezer as a go-to place for healthy foods. With a well-stocked space, you may even be able to stretch out the time between shopping rounds.