Use alternative options to make your groceries last longer, such as:
Freezing food is one of the best ways to combat food waste and keep plenty of food on hand for an extended period of time. However, there are a few tricks and tips before freezing foods to keep in mind to ensure maximum flavor and freshness.
– While freezing doesn’t kill foodborne bacteria, it massively slows down their ability to reproduce, which is why freezing prevents food spoilage.
– Use resealable plastic containers or freezer bags, not glass, which can crack when subjected to rapid changes in temperature. And remember that freezer bags and sandwich bags are not the same things. Freezer bags are made of thicker plastic and the plastic itself contains an additive that prevents it from becoming brittle in the freezer, which ordinary sandwich or storage bags do not.
Suggestions:
1. Ginger: Peel ginger and freeze it in airtight freezer bag. Frozen ginger is actually easier to grate than fresh because the outer layer is harder and doesn’t adhere to the fibrous ginger as much.
2. Vegetables: If you’re considering purchasing fresh vegetables and storing them for longer, think about blanching them. Wash and chop vegetables and blanch them in boiling water for one minute. Then immediately rinse the vegetables under cold running water. This step helps deactivate the enzymes that result in food spoilage. Store the vegetables in airtight freezer bags or containers before freezing.
3. Fruits: Mostly all fruits such as pineapple, cantaloupe, mangoes, and peaches can be chopped and placed in an airtight freezer bag or container before freezing.
4. Protein sources: Perishable items, including tofu, eggs, and yogurt, kept in the refrigerator should be consumed by the best before date on the package. Cut tofu or paneer in small pieces, bake until golden brown, place it in an airtight freezer bag and freeze it. It can last up to 3 months. Don’t freeze whole eggs as its shell can burst.
Beans, canned or dry, are an excellent option as they have a very long shelf-life. Beans can be boiled and can stay frozen for up to 3 months in airtight containers.
Fish and seafood, meat, and poultry: Place them in airtight freezer bags and store them in the freezer – for up to 2 months.
Be sure to date all foods placed in the freezer.
For more information about freezing food, click on the following link:
https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Cooking-Food-Preparation/Simple-Steps-to-Freeze-Food-Right
by:
Manmeet Behl, RD, NM, Registered BASICS.fst® and ADVANCED.fst® Trainer,
RD at Wellspring Chinguacousy (Cancer Support Centre), Director of Clinical Operations and Cofounder at Nutritionwize Consulting Services Inc.