Picture this: You come home from the grocery store with a ton of delicious (and expensive) food to eat, but much of it has already gone bad after a few days. What gives?
You can't always buy fewer eggs, mushrooms, or avocados, so save yourself a bit of money and freeze them! Hint: Not every food is freezer-friendly, so follow this list to help you make your food last longer and save money in the long run!
1. Cheese
Have you ever pulled out a block of cheese from the fridge and found a cluster of green spots on it? Tossing it out in the trash doesn't feel too good - the remaining cheese was about $6! Next time, instead of storing all the cheese in the fridge, cut off a block and freeze it. Just make sure you thaw it before putting it back in the fridge.
2. Nuts
Almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts all have one thing in common: they tend to carry a lot of mold. The longer they're kept at room temperature, the more likely they'll lose their flavor and contain a lot of unseen mold that will upset your tummy. Store them in the freezer until you plan to use them in recipes or add to cereals.
3. Ripe Bananas
As soon as they turn black, most of us toss bananas in the compost. Don't do that! You can keep them in the freezer to make banana bread or add to smoothies for an extra-creamy texture.
4. Avocados
Any avocado lover knows the struggle. Avocados spend most of their time either being too hard and unripe, or brown and beginning to rot. There's a short window when they're good to eat, and you'll have to toss a $2 food into the garbage pail. Save yourself the trouble and keep avocados in the freezer until you need them. Just don't forget to add a dash of lime juice if you cut them in half first.
5. Hummus
I never finish a whole container of hummus before it goes bad. I always discover a half-eaten package at the back of my fridge with suspicious-looking growths on it. If you're like me, store any extra hummus you won't eat right away in airtight containers and drizzle olive oil on top to keep it from drying out.
6. Eggs
So, you found a supersized pack of eggs at Costco and you simply had to buy them. The trouble is, you don't know how you're going to eat them before the expiry date. Believe it or not, eggs store nicely in the freezer, but only without their shells. Crack a few raw eggs into a container or bag and store in an airtight container for up to a year.
7. Flour
I bet you didn't know about this one. Flour goes bad faster than you think it does. Bacteria can grow rapidly and uninvited guests can hatch and contaminate the flour, unseen. Package it well to avoid it taking on any other flavors from your freezer, and store. It'll make a flakier crust once you do decide to use it!
8. Wine
Last but not least, you'll want to save that bottle of wine that only has a few cups left in it. After several days in the fridge, wine can take on a sour taste, and by then it's spoiled. Store any leftover dregs in the freezer to use in cooking unless you want to save yourself the trouble and drink it all now!
9. Onions
Over time, onions lying inside your kitchen cupboards can start to rot, and that's never fun to clean up. To help them keep for longer and cut down on prep time, chop the onions and store them in the freezer for quick and easy access. You won't be able to tell they're frozen when you toss them in a stir-fry or casserole.
10. Citrus Fruits
Maybe you bought a whole bag of oranges and can't eat them on time. Never fear! Slice any citrus fruits, including limes, lemons, oranges, and grapefruit and place them between layers of wax paper to prevent sogginess.
Did you know you could freeze these foods? Tell all your friends and SHARE this article!