With the cost of living set to rise dramatically due to soaring utility bills and the Social Security tax, many of us are looking for ways to ensure we’re making the most of our weekly grocery shopping.
In the age of meal prep, many of us know the power of the humble freezer. But did you know that in addition to your cooked leftovers and the usual oven chips, you can also freeze items like chips and cheese?
The good news is that the days of throwing away half a block of cheddar or shrimp cocktail chips in tears can be long gone now.
Thanks to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, we’ve got eight surprising foods and drinks you can freeze and keep longer, giving you more bang for your buck (or, you know, pounds) on your non-perishable goods.
butter
I can’t believe it’s not perishable. Salted butter will keep frozen for up to nine months, while frozen unsalted butter will keep for six months. Freezing your butter is easy: just wrap it tightly in freezer foil or good-quality kitchen foil.
Chopped chili and herbs
We’re all guilty of buying more chilies and herbs than we need for one meal, then throwing away the excess, only to do the same thing when we want that particular meal again a few weeks later.
Instead, try storing and freezing excess chili and herbs in a water bottle. This ensures that the products are not affected by moisture and stay fresh whenever you need them.
alcohol
Don’t let good wine go to waste! If you can’t drink every last bit in a bottle, don’t pour it down the sink — stick it in your freezer instead. White wines, rosé wines, or any better chilled wine are particularly good for freezing, and most spirits can be placed in the freezer as well.
However, remember that all high-alcohol beverages don’t freeze completely – but they do stay refreshing and chilled.
nuts
Whether salted, unsalted, fresh or packaged – a wide variety of nuts can be stored in the freezer for up to nine months. It’s just a matter of throwing them in a ziplock freezer bag.
You can then either defrost them the old fashioned way or reheat them by roasting them in a pan or in the oven.
Bakery products
Got a little crazy at your last bake sale? Overestimated how much brownie batter you need? If your pet hates stale or stale muffins, then we have good news for you – baked goods are also great for storage.
Baked goods like brownies, cakes, and cookies can be stored in Tupperware containers for up to three months.
Potato Chips
Chips have passed their expiry date? Regain a few extra months by storing them in the freezer in their original packaging.
Cheese
Hard and grated cheese can be stored in the freezer for three to six months. However, nobody likes crumbly cheese, so be sure to thaw the cheese completely before putting it back in the fridge.
With shredded cheese, it’s important to add extra flour to the bag and shake it well before attempting to freeze it.
garlic
Whether it’s clove, chopped or whole garlic, you can extend its shelf life up to twelve months simply by placing it in a ziplock bag.
“By compiling this list of foods you didn’t know you could freeze it will hopefully help weekly stores go the extra mile,” said a spokesman for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.
“When freezing your food, it’s always a good idea to use freezer-safe ziplock bags to keep the food fresh when you use it.
“Remove excess air before storage and be sure to label and date your preserved foods.”
“By freezing what you don’t eat, you can save yourself unnecessary expenses on weekly grocery shopping.”
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Contact us by email at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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