5 Freezable Foods for Frugal People

Putting food on the table 3 times a day is no small feat.

We've all come up with easy solutions, however you can't just buy / grow and cook the same thing over and over again. A great way to have more variety on hand for convenience is the freezer. Yes, canning, vacuum sealing, and dehydrating are more long term, but sometimes you just have to keep it simple. Here's 5 examples of my favorite things to freeze.

Tip: Let foods cool before freezing for better quality.
Also, some foods will freeze better than others, so you will learn what works best for you over time.

1. Leftovers

This is a wonderful way to reduce food waste. Sometimes you'll find yourself with an inordinate amount of leftovers and just get so tired of eating it for every single dinner and lunch afterwards. So to extend its life and the joy of eating it, bag it up and freeze for later.

2. Cooked Winter Squash & Pumpkin

These larger varieties can be used as a side or ingredient in both sweet and savory recipes. For most, simply cut in half, scoop out seeds and stringy bits, and bake on a deep cookie sheet with water until the squash is soft enough to scoop out. Bag and Freeze. Some squash, such as red kuri, are better if you simply cut up after baking. The texture and skin of the squash is different.

Spaghetti Squash is my favorite of all to freeze. You don't need the water. Slice, and drizzle with oil and salt to keep from burning. Bake on 400 F for 40 - 50 mins until tender. When done, scoop out all the yummy noodle center. It is wonderful sautéed with some oil or butter and dried parsley. I had frozen this for a year and it still tasted just as fresh as the day I made it!

3. Pre - Cut Veggies

Whether it's from the garden or the grocery store, veggies are important for a healthy life. You can cut up summer squash for soups and casseroles, apples to flavor venison in the crockpot, and prep sweet peas and green beans. One thing I do for the peas and beans is pre - boil (Blanche) for 30 - 60 seconds, let cool, then bag and freeze.

4. Vegetable Stock

This not only reduces food waste, but adds something extra for many meals. Use in place of any chicken or beef stock in your favorite recipes or simply make some soup! Some vegetables are better than others. I have done sweet pea and greasy short cut stock so far. It is so simple. After pre - boiling your veggies for the freezer, save the same water and through in the scrap pieces from prepping them. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer for at least 45 mins - 1 hour. You want the liquid to reduce some and turn a darker, brownish / green color. This is the flavor. You can bag this up or pour in ice cube trays to make portioning it easier.

5. French Toast & Pancakes

Making both of these delicious foods for breakfast can be time consuming. So I like to make a big batch and freeze them in pairs in bags. Then I just pull it out the morning of and pop it in the toaster for a slightly crisp, fresh tasting home-made breakfast on the go.

And that's it! 5 of my favorite freeze-able foods to make variety and quality more possible in our busy lives.

-'The Dancer'