Clever Mum reveals the surprising foods you can freeze to save up to £150 a month
With the cost of a family’s weekly food shop bill soaring due to rising inflation in the UK, many are looking for ways to cut costs.
And now fFood waste expert Kate Hall has revealed the unusual foods that can be frozen to help customers save money and reduce food waste.
While most people associate frozen foods with store-bought produce or ready meals, Kate from Orpington, Kent, has revealed that our freezers can help us store almost all foods as separate ingredients.
In fact, she even claims dThe average family can save up to £150 a month by storing more food.
Some of her suggestions included freezing eggs, pasta, and even potato chips.
Here she told FEMAIL tthe best food people should be freezing…
Food waste expert Kate Hall from Orpington, Kent, revealed the foods that can be frozen to help customers save money and reduce food waste
Eggs
“If you want your eggs to last longer, you can freeze them, just not in the shell!”
‘They can be frozen as yolks (with a pinch of salt or sugar to prevent them from getting too lumpy), as egg whites or beaten together.
“Freeze them in muffin tins, ice cube trays, or flat in a freezer bag in usable portions.
“They can later be used for baking, omelets, frittatas and more!”
Frubes
“This is such a great hack to avoid waste and give the kids a treat that I recently shared on my Instagram that parents loved.
“I like to freeze them and spread them out on a flat tray so they freeze straight and are easier for the kids to squeeze out.”
“If they want them, just cut the top off with scissors and let them soften for 2-3 minutes before serving.”
They are also a nice addition to your lunch box/picnic bag.
“They work well as edible ice packs and just thaw all morning so you can enjoy them like yogurt within four hours of leaving the freezer.”
Boiled pasta and rice
“If you ever cook too much, just run the leftovers under the cold tap to cool them down quickly, shake off the excess and freeze them while spreading them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet (so it doesn’t all freezes into a solid clump). move to a freezer bag.
“Both heat up quickly in the microwave, just make sure they’re piping hot all over!”
Kate claimed the average family could potentially save more than £150 a month simply by eating the foods they already have, such as pesto and red wine
Pesto
‘Never waste pesto again… freeze the leftovers in an ice cube tray and store the cubes in a freezer bag!
“They can be thawed in the refrigerator to use cold or added directly to any dish and heated until piping hot.”
Carrots
“The easiest option is to grate them and freeze them while they’re on a lined tray so you don’t end up with a solid block.”
“Once it’s frozen, move your shredded carrot to a freezer bag.”
“You can then add this straight from the freezer to dishes like Bolognese or chili to give them extra volume.”
Potatoes… and chips!
‘Save your potatoes from the trash by mashing them and freezing them flat in freezer bags!
It takes up minimal space in your freezer and can be heated up straight from the freezer in the microwave or in a saucepan.
“Just keep heating and stirring until all the excess water has evaporated.
‘It is also possible to freeze pre-cooked roast potatoes, chips, wedges and fully cooked jacket potatoes, all of which can be cooked or reheated from the freezer.
She said freezing Frubes is “such a great hack to avoid waste and give the kids a treat”
“I love keeping leftover grab bag chips in the freezer. I literally just put the chips in a freezer bag (labeled with the date and flavor) and eat them within three months.
“It’s helpful if we get together and have lots of half sacks left over, and also a good way to save some money for picnics and lunchboxes. For example a 40g bag of sweet chilli chips costs £1.00 (3p per gram) but I can get 150g for £2.25 (2p per gram) and can stretch the large bag further.
“The best part is that the chips don’t “freeze” as they are because they contain so little moisture, so they can be eaten right out of the freezer!”
Cheddar cheese
Grate your cheese (in a food processor is the fastest way) and freeze on a parchment-lined plate before placing in a freezer bag.
“It can then be used straight from the freezer to top lasagna, pasta dishes, and more.”
“You can also make cheese sandwiches and freeze them!”
Bananas
“Peel and slice your bananas, then freeze the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, store in a freezer bag.
“These can be used straight from the freezer in smoothies, or frozen in a food processor and whipped into healthy soft serve!”