Fruits

Freezing citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and limes will keep them fresh and makes them convenient to use in recipes and drinks later. They’re not only tasty, they contain a high amount of nutrients, like folate, vitamin C, and antioxidants that can protect your body’s cells from free radical damage. Just don’t freeze them whole or they’ll get mushy. Instead, slice them up thinly and place wax paper between each layer of slices, and then place them into the freezer. Be sure to wash your fruit well first, cutting away any areas of broken skin that can contain microorganisms, leading to food borne illness.

You can also “wet pack” citrus fruits by putting them into a freezer-safe canning jar. Fill the jar with water, leaving about one-and-a-half inches of space at the top to allow room for the fruit to expand as it freezes. Crumple up a piece of wax paper and stuff it into the top of the jar to keep the fruit from floating to the top. If you want to store the juice, first juice it using your hands or a juicer, and then pour the juice into ice cube trays and place them into the freezer. Once they’re frozen solid, take them out of the tray and place them in a freezer bag. For zest of citrus, simply grate the rind, add several squeezes of juice, and freeze in an ice tray.