75 Foods To Freeze ~ Save Money & Save Time
Foods You Can Freeze
As inflation rises and food shortages continue knowing you have food on hand is imperative. Discover 75+ foods to freeze that will help you save time and save money.
Why Freeze Food
You cut coupons, you shop around, you buy generic and you grow your own produce all in an effort to save your hard earned money. Freezing produce and the items listed below will help you save money and provide a food supply for your family.
What Can You Freeze
Honestly, you can freeze a lot! We freeze veggies, fruits and even one year we froze half a pig. In a house full of boys food moves fast.
You can freeze vegetables, fruits, meats, freezer meals and so much more. In researching this post I was surprised with what you can actually freeze to make life easier and more financially viable.
Foods Preserved By Freezing
When you freeze foods you are essentially preserving them. Making them available for a longer period of time. Please note that things do not last for ever in the freezer. Most items will freeze well for 6 months to a year.
You can vacuum seal your produce and meats for longer freezer storage and less chance of freezer burn. Or you can rotate your freezer stock and meal plan around what you have.
What Foods Can Be Frozen
You can freeze most vegetables, most fruits, most meats, candies, beans, dry goods, dog food, dairy and non dairy products and you can freeze eggs. Notice I said most…
Foods That Do Not Freeze Well
Some foods just don’t freeze well. For example milk products may separate or change consistency.
You should never refreeze raw defrosted meats or seafood. You will need to cook the meat before you can refreeze it.
Some produce will change texture once frozen and defrosted like peppers and berries. They become more juicy and slightly more squishy.
What Foods Can You Not Freeze
Most dairy products will separate or crumble during freeze or once defrosted. Do not freeze whole un-cracked eggs. You can learn more about eggs below in our list of foods you can freeze.
Do Not Freeze These Foods
Avoid freezing previously frozen and defrosted meats and other protein sources until after they have been cooked. For example you buy a “previously frozen” piece of fish or a “previously frozen” sausage link. Cook these fully before refreezing them for food storage.
What Vegetables Can You Freeze
You can freeze corn, peas, beans, broccoli, cauliflower and many more vegetables. Just note that some vegetables will not defrost well and may come out slightly mushy or less dense. I have found asparagus does not freeze well. The defrosted product may work in quiche or baking but as a steamed vegetable I have found it a bit mushy.
We freeze a good portion of our garden to table produce like tomatoes, carrots, peas, beans, broccoli, onions and peppers. I freeze a ton of kale for use in smoothies, soups, stir fries and other meal ideas.
What Vegetables Freeze Well
Corn, peas and carrots are common frozen vegetables. Cauliflower freezes well as florets or as cauliflower rice. Broccoli, okra, spinach, kale all freeze well. Tomatoes and peppers freeze well but change structure as they defrost.
What Fruit Can You Freeze
Fruit is one of the easiest foods to freeze. Strawberries, raspberries, berries of any kind freeze great. You can freeze apples in applesauce or in pie filling. Peaches, plums, nectarines all freeze well as sliced fruit for use in smoothies, pastries or cooking sauces.
Can You Freeze Bananas
Yes, bananas are one of the best foods to freeze. Bananas are a fast ripening fruit. Being able to preserve them helps in saving money and the loss of produce. Frozen bananas are great in smoothies and baking.
Best Fruits To Freeze
Berries have to be the best fruits to freeze and eat. Berries have such a small harvest window and they aren’t shelf stable for long. So preserving the bounty of the summer harvest by freezing makes them more accessible year round. And saves a lot of money. Have you seen the price of strawberries in December?
What Meats Can You Freeze
Most fresh meats can be frozen. Do not freeze “previously frozen” meats until after they have been cooked. Chicken, pork, beef, lamb and most fresh from the butcher or grocery store can be frozen and used within a year of storage.
Can Cooked Meat Be Frozen
Most cooked meats can be frozen once divided up into easy access serving sizes and placed in frozen food storage containers. Or frozen in freezer meals to make meal time easier.
Can You Freeze Cooked Beef
Frozen precooked ground beef is a huge time saver. Especially on busy weeknights. Frozen cooked ground beef is great to have on hand for use in tacos, spaghetti and other pasta dishes or soups.
Can You Freeze Milk
Yes, you can freeze milk but it may separate during freezing and defrosting. Meaning you may have a watery layer and a creamy milk layer. Shake the milk to combine.
Most frugal homemakers will use frozen milk products for baking and cooking leaving the fresh milk for drinking.
Can You Freeze Eggs
Yes, you can freeze eggs. The eggs need to be cracked and whisked together mixing the egg yolk and egg white before freezing.
You can also separate the egg yolk and egg white and freeze them separate for use in baking.
Can You Freeze Cooked Eggs
Yes, you can freeze cooked eggs. In fact scrambled eggs are great in frozen ready to go breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches.
Foods To Freeze
- Bread
- Bread Dough
- Pizza Dough
- Pizza
- Cookies
- Cookie Dough
- Icing
- Cakes
- Flour
- Sugar
- Tortillas
- Nuts
- Oatmeal
- Salt
- Cornmeal
- Yeast
- Dry Beans
- Cooked Beans
- Water
- Juice
- Coffee
- Brewed Coffee
- Chocolate
- Butter
- Cheese (texture may change when defrosted)
- Milk (texture may change when defrosted)
- Cream (texture may change when defrosted)
- Non dairy milk products
- Cream Cheese
- Cheese Curds
- Yogurt
- Yogurt Tubes
- Pudding
- Dessert Pastries
- Eggs (crack eggs and scramble before freezing)
- Soup
- Bone Broth
- Bacon
- Deli Meat
- Breakfast Sandwiches
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Beef
- Chicken
- Tofu
- Pork
- Casseroles
- Freezer Meals
- Lasagna
- Leftovers
- Stews
- Berries
- Avocado
- Coconut
- Breakfast Potatoes
- Smoothie Mixes
- Bananas
- Baby Food
- Herbs
- Spices
- Chopped Onions
- Minced or Chopped Garlic
- Lemons
- Cabbage
- Peppers
- Grated Zucchini
- Watermelon
- Tomatoes
- Tomato Sauce
- Pesto
- Hummus
- Corn
- Dog Treats
- Pretzels
- Potato Chips
- Fruit Zest
- Food Scraps For Stock
- Bottles of Water
Freezer Foods List
What foods to freeze where you surprised with? What are you going to freeze more off? Are you going to start filling the freezer to help save money on groceries?
What Would You Put In The Freezer
I have never thought about freezing eggs or onions but both of these would save a huge amount of time when it comes to fall and winter meals.
We use our freezer a lot for freezing meats, freezing berries and greens. I would like to increase the amount of homemade ready made meals we freeze to help make busy weeknights easier.
Best Things Freeze
This will vary from house to homestead. In our home meats or anything from the garden or local seasonal produce are some of the best things to freeze. They help save us time and money.
How To Freeze Foods
Most foods including freezer meals can simply be placed in freezer friendly bags or freezer containers and add to the freezer.
Fruits, berries, some vegetables, meatballs and individual food servings will store better when first frozen on a baking sheet then added to food storage bags. This makes it easier to access limited serving sizes.
Freezer Storage Supplies:
What Are Freezer Meals?
Freezer meals are meals you make ahead of time and freeze until you are ready to use them. Freezer meals can be cooked meals or simple meals that are sliced, diced, marinated and ready to cook.
Freezer Meals
If you are looking for some great freezer meal inspiration checkout these slow cooker meals that will help you save both time and money.
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