OK, you have made the purchases to stock up in this crazy “social distancing” time we are in…but what if you can’t use the groceries fast enough? Do you let them spoil? NO!! We are here to help with a guide to several items you may not have know you can freeze!

We have a FoodSaver unit & this is what we use but you can also use freezer safe bags. 

Insider tip for freezer safe bags-I usually double bag my items to ensure the freshness after it’s thawed.

Bread:

You may know you can freeze bread but just how do you do it? You can freeze an entire loaf or you can freeze sliced bread. It can be store bought or homemade. The process is the same. Bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. The caviat is that the bread needs to be fresh when you freeze it. If it is stale when frozen, it will be stale once you thaw it out too.

What you will need:
parchment paper
baking sheet
freezer safe bags

Instructions:
Entire loaf:
Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Sliced bread:
Individually freeze the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet into your freezer for at least 2 hours.
Once the bread loaf or slices are frozen, store in a freezer bag.
Squeeze as much air out of the freezer bag as possible.
When you’re ready to eat your bread, thaw it overnight in the fridge.

Tortillas:

Tortillas will last 6-8 months in the freezer.

Please note-They may get dry, but if they do, microwave them with a damp paper towel.

Eggs:
Frozen eggs will keep up to a year

Needed:
Eggs
Ice Cube Trays

Instructions:
Remove eggs from the shells first
Freeze each in an ice cube tray.
Freeze just the whites, yolks or mix them up (like scrambled eggs).
When you’re ready to use them, just thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.

Milk:
Frozen milk will last up to 3 months

When your milk is approaching its sell-by date, stick it in the freezer in the original container. Just make sure you leave a little room for expansion.

Insider tip-I usually write on the label with a sharpie how many days are left before the sell-by-date so I know how many days I have left once thawed.

You can do the same with half-and-half or buttermilk!

To thaw out, leave in the refrigerator over night.

Butter:

Freeze butter for up to six months past its expiration date.

Flour:
Most packaged flour can last up to two years in the freezer.

Place entire package into a freezer safe bag.
Place in the freezer
When you are ready to use, just remove the the freezer and sit it on the counter to thaw.

Cheese:

Freeze shredded cheese (or even blocks of cheese) for up to six months.
Just place the entire package into a freezer safe package & place in the freezer.

Cooked Pasta:

Freeze cooked pasta for up to two weeks.

Drizzle the pasta with a little olive oil first to prevent it from clumping.

Cooked rice:

Cooked rice will keep in the freezer for up to six months.

Candy:

Depending on the type, you can freeze most candy for six months to one year.

For example, hard candies and chocolate will last a year in the freezer.

Chips:

Freeze chips righ in their package & then add to a freezer safe bag to help prolong their shelf life without getting stale.

Chicken broth:

Frozen broth will keep for up to one year before losing its flavor.

Insider tip: I like to freeze cubes in an ice cube tray so I can pop them out in easy to use quantities.

Pesto:

Frozen pesto will keep for for 9 months to one year.

Herbs in Olive Oil:

Chop unused herbs and add to an ice cube tray.
Cover with olive oil — leave a bit of room at the top for expansion.

Once frozen, your herb cubes can be transferred to a resealable bag and dropped straight into soups and frying pans.

Sour Cream:

Frozen sour cream will keep for up to six months.

Previously frozen sour cream will have a different texture, so plan to use it for cooking instead of taco night.
Thaw in the refrigerator, may take up to 24 hours to thaw.

Cream Cheese:

Freeze cream cheese for about two months.
Place entire package into a freezer safe bag.
Thaw in the refrigerator, may take up to 24 hours to thaw.

Nuts:

Nuts can last up to two years past their expiration date in the freezer.

Best nuts to freeze:

Almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans and walnuts.

Just place in a freezer safe bag & place in the freezer.

Wine:

Freeze wine in an ice cube tray to use for cooking, or to keep your white wine cold without watering it down.

Grapes:

Frozen grapes last up to one year.

Insider tips-I love popping a few in my white wine (instead of ice) to chill the glass without losing flavor!

I also like to roll in wine & then in sugar before freezing for a nice sweet snack.

Bananas:

You can freeze bananas for up to six months.

Keep them in the peel, or unpeel them before freezing. I usually cut them into slices for my smoothies, they are easier to handle.

Great for smoothies or banana bread.

Corn on the cob:

Blanch the corn: Bring a large pot of water to boil and drop shucked ears of corn into the boiling water and cook for about 2-3 minutes.

Let the corn cool for a few minutes then cut kernels off and freeze in a Ziploc bag.

Insider tip: Don’t bother husking and blanching the corn on the cob before freezing.

Just throw it in the freezer with the husk intact. It has great taste and texture, nearly as good as when it is fresh.

Avocado:

Cut the avocado in half or mash it up and put it into a freezer bag.

Frozen avocados are best in foods like guacamole or smoothies.

Lemons:

Frrozen lemons (whole or sliced) will keep for 3-4 months.

If sliced, they need to be pre-frozen on a cookie sheet before frozen in bulk together.
Then just place in a freezer safe bag.

Garlic:

Whole or chopped garlic cloves can be frozen for up to one year.

Onion:

Chop raw onions and place them in the freezer for up to a year.

Hummus:

Hummus won’t go bad in the freezer, however, after around 4 months the taste & texture will change.

Ginger:

Frozen ginger will keep for up to six months.

First peel & mince, or grate the ginger.
Then spread or scoop the ginger onto a parchment-lined tray.
Once frozen, you can add to a freezer safe bag.

Pancakes & waffles:

Freeze leftover waffles or pancakes in a freezer safe bag for 1-2 months for a quick & easy breakfast.

Sandwiches:

Pre-made sandwiches will keep between 4-6 months.

Make sandwiches (like peanut butter and jelly) great for road trips.
Add to freezer safe bag & place in the freezer.

Mashed potatoes:

Frozen mashed potatoes will keep for 2-6 months.
Just place in portion sized freezer safe bags & place in the freezer.

Dough:

Freeze bread dough, pizza dough, pie dough and cookie dough for up to three months.
Insider tip: for quick & easy cookies-place cookie dough on parchment paper then on a cookie sheet.
Flash freeze for 2 hours. Then place in freezer safe bags
(I like to place parchment or wax paper in between cookies for easy removal).

Cake:

Frozen cake will last up to 3 months

Once cake has cooled (let cool all the way, it cannot be warm at all)
Wrap layers in Press & seal (this is the best product by far for this project)
Wrap the cake in aluminum foil
Write the type of cake & use by date on the foil
Place cake in a freezer safe container OR wrap in a 2nd layer to aluminum foil then double bagged freezer safe bags
Thaw in the refrigerator (slower thawing is better than room temperature thawing)
Insider tip- keep them in their wrapping while thawing. This will keep them from
condensation which will make the cake wet & sticky

Frosting:

Frosting will stay good in your freezer for up to three months.
Leave in the original container & add it to a freezer safe bag.
Thaw in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.

Hopefully this will help, not just in this crazy time but in the future as well.

Did we miss one of your favorite freezing tips? Let us know in the comments.