Whether you’re a couponing expert, or just someone who likes having easy meals ready to go at a moment’s notice, investing in a stand-alone freezer allows budget-conscious and time-pressed parents to buy in bulk, save money and have family favorites at their fingertips. Even better, investing in a model that can convert into a stand-alone refrigerator, like the Frigidaire Convertible Freezer/Refrigerator, allows you to pick and choose the setting, depending on your family’s needs at the moment. Frigidaire freezers provide flexible storage options with its accessible design, are low maintenance with its frost free automatic defrost, and are engineered here in the USA.
What can be frozen? We’ll break it down for you.
- Meat: Instead of sticking a value-size package of ground beef in the freezer, use smaller containers to create dinner-size portions for your family. This will save you time and money by allowing you to only defrost what you plan on using. And don't worry about taking up extra real estate in your main freezer. The smaller packages can easily defrost in your refrigerator to be ready to prepare when you are.
- Dairy: Did you score a deal on butter? You can buy extra pounds of butter and stick them in your freezer until you’re ready to use them. Don’t forget the milk! Just freeze by the sell-by date to ensure freshness. As milk will expand when frozen, you should also remove one cup of milk before sticking the container in the freezer.
- Fruits: You can use your freezer to take advantage of seasonal fruits to keep summertime flavors in your meals all year long. When storing fresh fruit, sort, wash and drain items like blueberries, raspberries, apples and even oranges. Remove the green parts and stems from the fruit, too. Store your fruit in freezer-safe containers for later use in smoothies, pies or even just for snacking. Avoid freezing over-ripe or bruised fruits; according to Utah State University Cooperative Extension, as those fruits will spoil quickly.
- Vegetables: Got fresh tomatoes, squash or broccoli you’d like to freeze for later use? Choose young, tender vegetables for freezing, then blanch, rinse and chop for storage in freezer-safe containers. By cutting the vegetables in advance, you can save prep time when cooking lasagna, fajitas, or soup. The Ohio State University notes that not all vegetables should be frozen, such as green onions, lettuce and other salad greens.
- Baked goods: For a great time-saver, consider baking your family’s favorite cookies, pies or cakes ahead of time, then storing them in freezer-safe containers. If you bake bread, consider making the dough, forming it into a loaf, and freezing it to bake at a later time.
- Herbs: Did your kitchen herb container yield a bounty of basil, thyme, or chives? Don’t pitch the excess; just freeze it for future use in stews, soups or casseroles. Simply wash and pat dry with a paper towel, then place in a freezer bag.
While freezing is great, families should keep freezers organized to ensure things don’t get lost or forgotten. Keep meat in the bottom shelves and drawers, use the top shelves for baked goods and dairy, and stash your frozen produce and herbs on the freezer door. Another great organization tip is to stock up on freezer-safe containers to store everything from meat to fresh herbs. To stay on top of when items are frozen, mark the date on the outside of the package with a waterproof pen.
For more information on this Frigidaire freezer, other Frigidaire freezer models or home appliances, or to find a retailer in your area, visit www.Frigidaire.com.
This is a "sponsored post," meaning the company who sponsored the article compensated me for writing the article. The opinions I have expressed, however, are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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