15 foods you didn’t know you could freeze

Insider shared a list of 15 foods that you wouldn’t think you’re able to freeze:

1. Milk

Simply pour out a little milk to leave room for expansion, and pop in the freezer. Once you return home, remove from the freezer and thaw in refrigerator. Before use, give it a good shake to prevent drinking any separated milk. It’s best when frozen at its freshest, and it shouldn’t be kept longer than four to six weeks.

2. Butter

Place butter in its original wrapping inside of an airtight bag, or tightly wrapped in foil. When ready, simply remove from the freezer and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before use. Butter usually lasts for up to six months, though some foodies report enjoying butter a year after freezing.

3. Nuts

Nuts, especially unshelled, can quickly go rancid, thanks to high fat content. Heat, moisture, light and even their proximity to metal can cause nuts to spoil.

Store them in a plastic, airtight container. Shelled nuts last for up to eight months in the freezer, but remember: One bad nut can spoil a whole recipe. Be sure to taste before using!

4. Cheese

When blocks of cheese go on sale, feel free to stock up.

Cheese can freeze in its original packaging, but wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or heavy-duty aluminium foil, too. Soft cheese and cheesy spreads will only last a month frozen, so it may only be worth it to freeze the harder cheeses, which will last up to six months. Remember to thaw cheese in the refrigerator overnight before use.

5. Baked goods

After cooling, wrap cookies individually in plastic and place in an airtight container for up to one month. For bar cookies or brownies, store them unsliced, tightly-wrapped in plastic wrap and again in foil for three months. These should be thawed at room temperature.

Store-bought breads and muffins should cool completely in the refrigerator and then be placed in the freezer unopened, where they’re good for up to two months. Quickly revive these babies with a brief microwave session. But the fun doesn’t stop there: dough especially can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator for later baking.

6. Flour

Many who don’t freeze their flour quickly learn about weevils that infest it.

Freezing flour is not only smart money-saving practice, it’s necessary for sanitation. Store flour in a food-grade airtight container out of its original paper packing, since it’s so porous. Freeze for 48 hours to kill off insects and place in the refrigerator for constant, proper storage.

7. Pesto

If you’re left with an unfathomable amount of basil leaves, put them to good use in bulk batches of pesto. After making your sauce, spoon globs of pesto evenly into ice cube trays and freeze them completely. Once frozen, pop them into a plastic airtight container or bag and store for six to eight months. To use your nifty, portioned pesto cubes, let them thaw at room temperature naturally, or remove them earlier and thaw in the refrigerator.

8. Herbs

Freezing them at their freshest is a great way to store moist herbs to retain flavor. Start by washing and pat-drying your leafy herbs. You may want to chop them into desired portions before freezing. On a small tray or cookie sheet, spread the herbs out individually on top of parchment paper and placed covered in the freezer.

Once frozen solid, remove the herbs, place them in an airtight plastic bag and pop back into freezer until you are ready to use. You could even spoon herbs into an ice tray and fill it half way with water. When they’re ready, simply plop the herbs in a stew or your next dish. Flavorful herbs like mint are best with iced tea or even your next chilled cocktail.

9. Cream cheese and sour cream

If you’re baking or cooking, cream cheese retains its flavor and purpose just fine. It can freeze for up to three months in its original packing.

Sour cream is generally the same principle. Whipping sour cream before freezing helps distribute moisture, and doing so after thawing in the refrigerator — and adding two spoonfuls of cornstarch — will help it return to its creamy form. This will keep for roughly three months, and should be stored in its original container and an airtight bag.

10. Jam

Fill your thick-glassed mason jar and stick it in the freezer (jam doesn’t expand much). To thaw, let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. Enjoy your jam within a year’s time, as after that it will start to lose flavour.

11. Rice

Freeze cooked rice for quick and easy access. Let the rice cool before freezing it in plastic bags or containers. To defrost, transfer to a heat-proof bowl, add a little water, and microwave until defrosted.

12. Wine

If you have leftover wine, don’t pour it out! Instead, pour the wine in ice cube trays or plastic bags and freeze. The freezing doesn’t affect the flavour of the wine and you always have a little bit on hand for cooking sauces.

13. Eggs

To freeze eggs, crack them open in a bowl, whisk slightly, and pour into freezer bags or ice cube trays. You can also freeze egg yolks and whites separately.

14. Tomato paste

Spoon the paste into ice trays and freeze. Then, take one out at a time and add it to your spaghetti sauce.

15. Fresh squeezed juice

When fresh citrus is in season, you can squeeze all you want and freeze it. Freeze the juice in ice cube trays and stick an ice pop stick in the center for a tasty and healthy treat.

Read the original article and more great things on Insider.