Beyond vegetables, sauces, and bread, plenty of other kitchen essentials freeze remarkably well, helping you reduce food waste and keep ingredients fresh longer.
1. Ginger
Ginger's potent flavor means you only need a little at a time. Store a knob in the freezer and grate off what you need—no waste.
2. Nuts
Keep nuts in the freezer to maintain their satisfying crunch for months.
3. Herbs
Robust herbs like rosemary and thyme hold up beautifully when frozen. Delicate ones like parsley and basil may soften but often retain good flavor despite a slightly wilted look.
4. Cheese
Freezing affects cheese flavor minimally when grated. Shred and freeze in portions rather than a whole block for best results.
5. Bananas
Freeze overripe bananas for smoothies or banana bread. Try our proven banana bread recipe for delicious results.
6. Wine
Freeze leftover wine or champagne in ice cube trays or bags. Perfect for quick-chilling drinks or adding to pasta sauces.
7. Butter
Ideal for partial sticks or homemade herb butter—freeze and slice as needed.
8. Cookie dough
Portion and freeze dough for fresh-baked cookies anytime. Bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
9. Egg whites and yolks
Skip freezing eggs in shells. Separate whites or yolks for recipes. For yolks, mix in 6 grams sugar or salt per 100 grams to preserve texture by lowering the freeze point. Learn more.
10. Leftovers
Freeze meals for busy days, but note dairy-heavy dishes may separate upon thawing.
Pro Tip
Use labels on freezer bags and containers to note contents and dates—essential for organization.
Curious about freezing nutritious foods? Check the March issue article The ideal health food comes from the freezer.
What do you freeze?
Read also
