A freezer can be a true friend to your pocket, your kitchen and your tummy and understanding how to stash away your items properly in there can make a lot of difference.
If you enjoy your fresh produce then freshness is something that’s going to be at the fore of your mind. Each month of the year has its seasonal charms, however keeping freshly picked items fresh in the kitchen can be a task.
How many of us know people that create seasonal produce in their gardens but don’t know what to do when it comes time to pick. Well, we’ve compiled a list of ways that you can prepare these commonly found garden vegetables and fruits to be placed in your freezer to prevent them spoiling and allowing you to enjoy them all year round.
Apples – Making More of your Kitchen
Apples can be turned easily into apple sauce and then placed inside a nice container for safekeeping for the rest of the year – ideal for serving with sweet and savoury foods alike.
Alternatively, it’s also possible to make and freeze an apple pie unbaked. They will keep all year round and you can just whip one out of the freezer and stick in the oven for an hour and you’ve fresh apple tart any time you like – dangerous.
Lemon
A lot of us buy lemons in bulk, though the climate in the UK is too warm for them. There are a number of ways to store them in the fridge, although pickling to preserve is a common way. Lemons can be zested and stored in the fridge in a suitable container. In addition, the juice can be added to small containers and then frozen and eventually made into lemon meringue or lemonade.
Stoned Fruit
Stoned fruit such as plums and peaches can also be stored in the freezer. Simply, toss with sugar to help preserve their texture and freeze in a closed bag.
Berries – Great Kitchen Tips
Simply rinse berries and pat them dry, laying them on a tray until frozen in the freezer. Then place them in a ziplock bag and place them back in the freezer.
Bananas
These can also be freeze dried very easily and all you need to do is peel and slice them and place them on a tray in the freezer to initially freeze. You can then add them to a ziplock bag and pull them out as needed for a recipe.
Caramelised Onion
Preparing caramelised onions in batches can be a real time saver. Caramelising onions can take time and effort and preparing and freezing can be a life saver. This can be done in a similar manner to preparing the berries and bananas – all of which was Inspired by This is Phipps #LoveyourFreezer efforts.
Sweetcorn and Beans and Brocolli
Trim and blanch all of these by boiling and cooling quickly in ice water before storing in freezer bags. In the case of the sweet cord cool quickly, drain and cut the kernels from the cobs. Then place these in a zip lock bag.
Zucchini
Shred the pack in a freezer bag and then place in the freezer. When you take these out you will need to thaw and drain before then adding them to a recipe.
Squash
Steam or roast the root vegetables until tender and then puree until smooth before adding to a plastic bag and placing in the freezer. Make sure they are cool before doing so.
Mixed Vegetables
Creating a mixed vegetable puree from summer root vegetables and tomatoes is a very tasty way to keep them and use them in the months ahead for all sorts of meals.
These are just some of the great ways that you can use your freezer to make more of your kitchen, your cooking and also to reduce waste in the home.
We provide a whole selection of options for those looking to make the most of their appliances in our kitchens. With a focus on high quality and value, we always want our customers to have the very best and a result that fits with their style, lifestyle and their needs.
Why not take a look through our gallery to get an idea of some of the styles and designs that we’ve created for our fantastic customers.
