Tip-sy Tuesday: freezing food

I saw this info about freezing food in an old Rachel Ray magazine and I didn't know some of it so thought I'd pass along in case you are interested. With food shortages and hoarding it's good to know that I can freeze some of this stuff for later!

5 UNEXPECTED THINGS YOU CAN FREEZE:

• MILK pour into freezer bags and freeze flat. 
• EGG WHITES freeze each white separately in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, store them in freezer bags.
• BUTTER buy it on sale with no fear of it spoiling. Store sticks in the paper wrap in a freezer bag.
• AVOCADO save ripe avocados by mashing them with a bit of lemon juice and packing in airtight containers.
• NUTS AND GRAINS store in airtight containers or freezer bags to prevent them from going rancid at room temperature.

5 THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T FREEZE:

• COFFEE the aromatic oils in the beans break down when frozen, resulting in a less-flavorful cup.
• WHOLE EGGS yolks become gummy when frozen.
• RAW POTATOES they'll turn black and gritty. Cooked potatoes, however, are fine to freeze.
• CHEESE many fresh cheeses will weep liquid and become gritty when frozen. Grated cheese and blocks of processed cheese can withstand the cold but after freezing are best used for melting.
• ONIONS they turn mushy and watery when thawed. 

HOW TO THAW FOOD FROM FREEZER:

1. The best way: IN THE FRIDGE Set frozen food in its wrapper on a plate to catch drips. Foods thawed in the fridge will last 2 or 3 more days than those thawed using other methods.

2. The shortcut: IN COLD WATER place food in an airtight bag and submerge in cold water; change water every 30 minutes. Using hot water is a no-no: It encourages bacteria.

3. The cheat: IN THE MICROWAVE unwrap foods and thaw using the defrost or low setting. If meats start to brown, remove and cool before continuing. Cook immediately.

4. For baked goods: ON THE COUNTERTOP bread and other frozen baked goods are safe to thaw on the counter. Keep them loosely covered with their wrapping from the freezer and place on a wire rack to prevent condensation and sogginess. 

STOCK YOUR FREEZER PANTRY 

(make extras of these things to keep on hand for quick use):

• PANCAKES reheat them in the microwave or toaster oven
• BURRITOS bake one for a snack or a few in a casserole
• COOKED RICE stir into soup or toss with salads
• BREADED OR BATTERED COOKED CHICKEN CUTLETS instant dinner!