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Preserve Your Budget by Freezing Foods

By Nadine Cheung Posted 10:00AM 05/22/12 Savings Experiment, Food & Beverage |
Savings Experiment: Freezing Foods
How Much Of Your Food Is Wasted By Improper Preservation Or A No Leftover Policy?
25-30%6620 (25.6%)
20-24%3279 (12.7%)
15-19%2490 (9.6%)
10-14%2990 (11.6%)
5-9%3581 (13.9%)
0-4%6878 (26.6%)
Did you find our video on freezing foods helpful?
Yes, it's a great idea1063 (44.5%)
Yes, useful and entertaining687 (28.7%)
No641 (26.8%)

When you want to preserve leftovers, freezing is a great option. However, the key to stretching your savings is knowing how to properly store your food. Here are some tips on how to stretch your dollars.

First, forget the plastic wrap. Although it's convenient to roll some out and cover a plate, the product won't give you a tight seal, and you'll end up with freezer burn. Freezer burn is the loss of water molecules, which causes food to become dehydrated. That's the exact opposite of what you want to do, which is keep your food fresh.

Instead, invest in plastic containers. These days, companies make disposable varieties that can be reused and washed a number of times. Ziploc offers the best function and value for $3.85 for a pack of four. Once you've packed your leftovers, place them in the freezer, making sure to leave plenty of space around the container. This allows cool air to circulate around the vessel and promotes even freezing. Once your leftovers are fully frozen, you can stack them on other items in your freezer.

leftoversFor liquids, Ziploc plastic bags are key. Not only are they budget-friendly at $3.79 for a 20-pack, but they're durable, as well. Fill a bag with your liquid, and lay flat to freeze. Once it's frozen, store the bag in an upright position. The flat shape great for thawing, too. Don't forget to mark the pack date on your bags and containers -- food doesn't last forever in the freezer.

With these tips, your leftovers will stay fresh longer, and you can keep saving your money, instead of spending it.
Tagged: best containers for freezing foods, BestContainersForFreezingFoods, food, food and drink, freezing food in plastic containers, freezing foods, freezing liquids, FreezingFoodInPlasticContainers,

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mizzjan56

Get a FoodSaver machine! I've been using one for years. My husband and I refer to it as the "sucky machine"...only because it sucks the air out of the bags, and we can't usually remember the "Foodsaver"! It's awesome. I cook "army style"...lots of "planned overs"...and put them in "sucky bags". I also grow an awesome garden. Make my own pasta sauce from home-grown tomatoes. Do tons of stuffed green peppers. Par-cook them. Freeze them just until they'll withstand the "sucky" process....then into my freezer they go! NO flavor is lost. I also make LOTS of meatloaves on my smoker grill, in foil pans, and then freeze them too. GREAT smoky flavor in the dead of winter. Here's a great one too....we smoke lots of ribs on the grill...put them in sucky bags....and then when we want them, we slowly warm them in the crock pot. To die for!!!!!!!!!

March 05 2013 at 7:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mastercommentor

the only thing i freeze is ice cubes & ice cream ;-)

March 05 2013 at 4:25 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
mastercommentor

if AOL/HP could get these stupid webpages to work, it would be a miracle, gee funny how my comment got submitted multiple times, well, its AOL/HP, what do you expect, piss poor web programs that do not know what there doing....

March 05 2013 at 4:24 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
mastercommentor

freezing takes away the flavor,,,

March 05 2013 at 4:23 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
summerchaser

I freeze first the container then i put it in a freezer bag...... perhaps too much but i do not think so...

March 05 2013 at 9:51 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
cic

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection site has a factsheet on freezing listing a freezer storage chart on length of times for various foods

March 01 2013 at 4:46 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Dolores

I have a question about the freezing episode. It appeared the girl was freezing macaroni salad in the bag. Is this safe?

February 28 2013 at 7:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
arenadood

We normally use Vacuum seal bags for freezer items like Meat or Fish. They keep the food fresh much longer and you get no freezer burn.

February 28 2013 at 5:05 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to arenadood's comment
invmartyc

We started doing that, I think you are doing the best.

I wonder if Zip Lock paid for this article? That is all they seemed to use.

March 05 2013 at 2:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
valeriacom

ditto on the "Food Saver" it is the best., and if you use Ziploc's new "perfect portions" little baggies, it works even better. Especially if you buy in bulk and freeze chicken and burgers and the like. The little baggies hug the food, and when you vacuum seal them, you can still pick out individual pieces. The little baggies keep the food miles away from freezer burn as well.

February 28 2013 at 2:36 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
owl

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This Ebook Shows Survivalists How To Create Their Own Food Storage For Any Emergency. Well Written And Includes 3 Bonuses. http://03ab3sqz3i0hmybbmrpn-1sk21.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=STUMBLE

September 18 2012 at 9:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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