Done. The fridge, freezer, and pantry are now organized and purged. Getting rid of those old spices and freezer burned corn is such a great feeling, but now what. I’m kinda stuck on what to stock up with for the rest of fall and the closely approaching winter. Sure I love fresh vegies, and believe me I’ve already eaten my weight in pomegranates, but I’m left wondering what are some of the key essentionals that I need to fill my kitchen. As much as I love going to Whole Foods on a daily basis, I know come winter I will go out less and less and will want to use what I have in stock. Ever wonder what to do when all of the fresh produce is no longer in season. Here are some tips to freezing fruits and veggies and choosing the best pre-packaged frozen ones money can buy.
The life span for most frozen vegetables and fruit is about 8 months unopened in the freezer. Did you know that store bought frozen fruits and vegies are actually packaged immediately after harvesting so the nutrients stay at their peak.
What to look for when choosing packaged frozen vegetables….
1. Flip over the ingredient list, the only thing you should see there are the vegetables themselves.
2. Make sure that the veggies haven’t frozen into a lump…this a sure sign they have been thawed and refrozen.
3. Avoid anything and everything that is mixed with cheese or topped with some sort of sauce, that racks up both the calories and the sodium. Just stick to plain ol’ veggies!
How to freeze your own veggies…
1. The best time to freeze your vegetables is as soon as they have been picked or like in my case, bought.
2. Blanch all veggies before freezing to help preserve their vitamins and color.
3. Cool and drain them quickly, then dry the veggies off with a clean towel.
4. Pack the vegetables (removing as much air as possible) and freeze immediately. It’s always a good idea to label the packages with the “freezing date”. Remember they only keep for up to eight months unopened and only two if opened.
What to look for when choosing frozen fruits….
1. Again make sure the only ingredients on the list are the fruits themselves…nothing else.
2. Look for resealable bags to help prevent ice crystals. These are a sure sign that the fruit is dehydrated and lost some of it’s flavor and nutrients.
3. Avoid fruits packed with sugar or in some sort of syrup.
How to freeze your own fruit…
1. Again the best time to freeze them is either right after picking them or right after buying them.
2. Wash and drain the fruit.
3. To avoid clumping it’s always a good idea to first freeze them on trays in the freezer. Then once they are completely frozen transfer to the container or bag.
Happy freezing…
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