New research has shown that Brits waste £450 worth of freezable food every year, which can amount to £35,000 over a lifetime. Most commonly perishables including fruit, vegetables and bread often end up in the bin due to their short shelf life. Other easily wasted food includes eggs, cheese and potatoes.
In a bid to reduce food waste for Brits, food experts at meal-prep service HelloFresh have highlighted five lesser known foods that can easily be frozen and defrosted to enjoy at a later date.
Senior Recipe Development Manager, Mimi Morley from HelloFresh comments,
“The freezer can be your most important kitchen appliance, allowing you to stock up on all your favourites and enjoy when it suits you.
“Keep your freezer in good working condition and reduce food waste by regularly cleaning it with antibacterial cleaning products and make sure to immediately wipe away any spills. If your freezer is prone to ice build up, you should aim to defrost it at least once a year.”
Mimi highlights five lesser known freezer friendly foods.
Avocados
You might find that whole avocados tend to freeze better than sliced or chopped, but while this fruit is notorious for its short shelf life, Mimi recommends stocking up on this nutritious healthy fat in your freezer and adding to more meals to support a balanced diet.
Butter
Shop bought butter tends to have a longer shelf life than homemade, but both can be frozen at home. Mimi suggests freezing in batches to avoid running out when you need it the most. To freeze, tightly wrap in foil, greaseproof paper or cling film and place inside a freezer bag. When it comes to defrosting, cut the butter into cubes and allow to soften at room temperature.
Eggs
Freezing eggs can be a simple and effective way to reduce food waste in your kitchen. To get the most out of your frozen eggs, Mimi recommends whisking in a bowl first and pouring into a clean ice cube tray. Mimi advises against freezing eggs still in the shell, as the yolk and whites will expand when frozen, causing the exterior to crack, and could make it challenging to defrost.
Get ahead with meal prepping by freezing cooked eggs, either scrambled, poached or as an omelette. To defrost, let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
Rice
Experts say that you can safely freeze both cooked and uncooked rice to extend its shelf life. For meal prepping, Mimi recommends dividing into portion sized amounts and placing inside freezer friendly bags, squeezing out as much air as possible before freezing to allow for quicker and easier defrosting. Use within 24 hours of defrosting and make sure the rice is piping hot before eating.
Potatoes
Potatoes are best frozen once cooked, and tend to not freeze as well in their raw state. You can safely freeze chips, wedges, roasted, baked and even mashed. The same goes for sweet potatoes too.
Raw potatoes have a high water content, meaning they can become mushy and lose their taste after defrosting.
