This all started one day when I got an open bag of Mozzarella cheese out of the refrigerator. I gave the contents a little “sniff” and got that… “it’s probably OK, but not for long smell”. It had been in there a couple weeks. There was no green on it, but you could just tell it was not really fresh.
Not wanting to take a chance and ruin the dish, I tossed it. Almost a pound of cheese. I’m sure it’s happened to everyone.
Then there’s the things you use very seldom… For instance:
- What do you do with the rest of the can of tomato paste after you take the 2 tablespoons out you need for a recipe?
- You need a chunk of salt pork for a soup recipe. What do you do with the rest?
- Pie crusts come two to a box. I only needed one today.
- I like using fresh ginger instead of dried, but I wouldn’t use an entire hand in 6 months
- A package of wonton wrappers has about 30 in it. I only need 12.
- You can make about 3 quarts of chicken stock from a single oven stiffer, it only lasts a week or so in the refrigerator.
It goes on and on. Here’s the solution… Freeze it!.
Here’s the short list of all the things you will find in my freezer.
- Canadian bacon and regular bacon
This is the bacon you use for recipes. When it calls for a couple strips. Bacon is easy to cut with a big knife. - Cheese
Any cheese that’s left over can easily be frozen to be used in recipes - Salt Pork
- Hand of Ginger
Wrap in plastic and put it a zip lock bag. It’s easily graded or shaved when frozen - Fish Chick and/or Cracker crumb topping
I make a container of cracker crumb topping ready for use any time I make fish - Smoked salmon
- Dried Mushrooms
- Wonton wrappers
- The tips of fresh fish I don’t use in original recipes.
- Chicken stock.
Freeze it in 1 quart zip lock bags so you can grab a quart at a time when cooking - Intimation crab meat
I use this for fish stuffing. - Coffee that doesn’t get used daily, like flavored coffees or special roasts
- Fresh raspberries used for adult cocktails
- Pasta sauce
- Tomato paste
Store in a small zip lock bag and squish “flat” so it’s easy to break off a piece when needed
If you have any additional ideas, please let us know.
