Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts! However, at my house, I'm the only one who will eat it. (I know, what is wrong with them? Oh well, more for me!) What's a girl to do? Freeze it of course!
How To Freeze Cheesecake
How To Freeze A Whole Cheesecake in a Spring Form Pan
Did you just make a cheesecake and want to freeze it for later? Take off the outer rim and leave the cheesecake on the bottom of the pan. Wrap the cheesecake in plastic wrap. I wrap a few layers of plastic wrap. Make sure to include wrapping the pan! Then, wrap the cheesecake and pan in a layer of aluminum foil. Whole cheesecakes will stay good for 1 month in the freezer.
How To Freeze A Whole Cheesecake
If you don't want to freeze your pan no worries! You will need a heavy cardboard to make a 'plate'. Wrap in a layer of aluminum foil. Place the cheesecake on the cardboard plate and freeze as you would if it were in a spring form pan. Whole cheesecakes will stay good for 1 month in the freezer.
How to Freeze a Cheesecake Slice
Personally, I like to freeze my cheesecakes in individual slices. That way when I want a sweet treat I can grab one out (and not be tempted to have a second piece!) Cut your cheesecake and then freeze. Once the slices are frozen, wrap in a piece of plastic wrap and yet again in aluminum foil. Then, I put them in a large freezer bag. Cheesecake slices will last about 3 weeks.
Cheesecakes with toppings do not freeze well. Instead, you should add your toppings after the cheesecake is thawed.
To thaw a frozen cheesecake, place it in the refrigerator.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
How To Freeze Milk
Milk is a staple in many homes (including ours!) We go through quite a bit at home for not only drinking, but for cereal, cooking, and my son's personal favorite - pudding. Did you know that you can freeze milk? You can! So when you see milk go on sale, pick up an extra! If you aren't going to finish the gallon in your refrigerator, no worries! Simply learn how to freeze milk!
There are a few things you need to know about freezing milk.
One, milk will expand when it is frozen. So you will need to pour some out (or into another container, or simply have a large glass of milk yourself!)
Two, the milk will separate when frozen. It's not a problem! Just simply give it a good shake!
So, exactly how do you freeze milk?
Pour about 3/4 - 1 cup of milk out. Put on the lid nice and tight! Milk will absorb the other flavors in the freezer so make sure the lid is on tight to avoid that. Then freeze. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Thawing is simple, put in the refrigerator. To speed up the process, place the milk in a sink full of cold water. Shake thoroughly.
Some tips on how to freeze milk.
The higher the fat percentage in the milk, the more it will separate when frozen.
Freezing half gallons of milk is easier than full gallons. Milk should be used in about 3 days after thawing, so the half gallon size is easier to manage. Also, it takes up less room in your freezer.
If your family doesn't like the taste of milk that has been frozen (personally, for my family there is not much of any difference) it's still great to use for cooking or cereal!
There are a few things you need to know about freezing milk.
One, milk will expand when it is frozen. So you will need to pour some out (or into another container, or simply have a large glass of milk yourself!)
Two, the milk will separate when frozen. It's not a problem! Just simply give it a good shake!
So, exactly how do you freeze milk?
Pour about 3/4 - 1 cup of milk out. Put on the lid nice and tight! Milk will absorb the other flavors in the freezer so make sure the lid is on tight to avoid that. Then freeze. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Thawing is simple, put in the refrigerator. To speed up the process, place the milk in a sink full of cold water. Shake thoroughly.
Some tips on how to freeze milk.
The higher the fat percentage in the milk, the more it will separate when frozen.
Freezing half gallons of milk is easier than full gallons. Milk should be used in about 3 days after thawing, so the half gallon size is easier to manage. Also, it takes up less room in your freezer.
If your family doesn't like the taste of milk that has been frozen (personally, for my family there is not much of any difference) it's still great to use for cooking or cereal!
Freeze Cottage Cheese
If you want to freeze cottage cheese, then you are in luck. You can freeze cottage cheese, however, it's a very soft cheese and doesn't freeze the best. But, if you want to use cottage cheese in casseroles or other baked dishes then it can be done no problem!
First, purchase the whole fat or large curd cottage cheese as it freezes better than the low fat options. You can freeze it directly in the container. Place the container into a freezer bag to help avoid any freezer burn.
Don't forget to label your cottage cheese! You can increase your cottage cheese's life by up to 6 months!
Thaw the cottage cheese by simply placing it in the refrigerator. After it is thawed, drain excess liquid. You can stir in a little bit of sour cream if you would like to keep it from being so dry. However, if you are using it to cook with it should be fine.
So yes, you can freeze cottage cheese! It's just one of the more tricky items to freeze!
First, purchase the whole fat or large curd cottage cheese as it freezes better than the low fat options. You can freeze it directly in the container. Place the container into a freezer bag to help avoid any freezer burn.
Don't forget to label your cottage cheese! You can increase your cottage cheese's life by up to 6 months!
Thaw the cottage cheese by simply placing it in the refrigerator. After it is thawed, drain excess liquid. You can stir in a little bit of sour cream if you would like to keep it from being so dry. However, if you are using it to cook with it should be fine.
So yes, you can freeze cottage cheese! It's just one of the more tricky items to freeze!
Can You Freeze Cream Cheese?
Question: Can you freeze Cream Cheese?
Answer: Yes!
So now the real question is HOW can you freeze cream cheese. It's really easy.
Put an unopened package of Cream Cheese in a freezer bag. Squeeze all of the air out and date your bag. You can extend the life of your cream cheese by 6 months by freezing it.
To thaw, simply put in the refrigerator over night.
The consistency of the cream cheese will change during the freezing/thawing process. After you thaw it will be a little crumbly. BUT you have a few options.
One, you can use it for cooking. When you use it for cooking (casseroles, dips, etc) it will taste just the same!
Two, you can put it in the mixer (or whip it by hand) for a few minutes to whip it. (This method will work some but not restore it to the original consistency.)
Or you can warm it up in the microwave stirring smooth. When it cools it will go back almost to the same consistency that it was before being frozen!
Answer: Yes!
So now the real question is HOW can you freeze cream cheese. It's really easy.
Put an unopened package of Cream Cheese in a freezer bag. Squeeze all of the air out and date your bag. You can extend the life of your cream cheese by 6 months by freezing it.
To thaw, simply put in the refrigerator over night.
The consistency of the cream cheese will change during the freezing/thawing process. After you thaw it will be a little crumbly. BUT you have a few options.
One, you can use it for cooking. When you use it for cooking (casseroles, dips, etc) it will taste just the same!
Two, you can put it in the mixer (or whip it by hand) for a few minutes to whip it. (This method will work some but not restore it to the original consistency.)
Or you can warm it up in the microwave stirring smooth. When it cools it will go back almost to the same consistency that it was before being frozen!
Can I Freeze Yogurt? YES!
Everyone must love yogurt because I get asked all the time "Can I freeze yogurt?" The answer is yes, yes, YES! In fact there are lots of different options that you have to freeze yogurt!
You can freeze it in the container, make Popsicles, make smoothie packs, yogurt bites, or freeze it for baking!
To find out more about all of the ways that you can freeze yogurt, make sure to read our full post on how to freeze yogurt here.
You can freeze it in the container, make Popsicles, make smoothie packs, yogurt bites, or freeze it for baking!
To find out more about all of the ways that you can freeze yogurt, make sure to read our full post on how to freeze yogurt here.
Can You Freeze Sour Cream? YES!
I get asked all the time "Can you freeze Sour Cream?" Yes, you can freeze sour cream! However, the freezing process does change the texture of the sour cream when it freezes. I recommend that you use your sour cream for baking. It will taste just the same!
So how do you freeze sour cream? Easy! First whisk the sour cream. Then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. If you want you can freeze it directly in the original sour cream container. Make sure you squeeze out as much air as possible. I personally, like to use my Food Saver and get all of the air out.
And since I only use my sour cream for baking I freeze it in 1/2 cup packages. That way I can just pull out the right amount for my recipe and I don't have to worry about the rest of the container going bad!
Don't forget to label your sour cream! You can keep it in the freezer for about 6 months.
Thawing is easy, just put your container in the refrigerator. You can whip a little bit of cornstarch to it if it needs to be thickened up a little.
So how do you freeze sour cream? Easy! First whisk the sour cream. Then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. If you want you can freeze it directly in the original sour cream container. Make sure you squeeze out as much air as possible. I personally, like to use my Food Saver and get all of the air out.
And since I only use my sour cream for baking I freeze it in 1/2 cup packages. That way I can just pull out the right amount for my recipe and I don't have to worry about the rest of the container going bad!
Don't forget to label your sour cream! You can keep it in the freezer for about 6 months.
Thawing is easy, just put your container in the refrigerator. You can whip a little bit of cornstarch to it if it needs to be thickened up a little.
How To Freeze Pizza Dough
Pizza is a weekly staple in our house. We used to order out pizza, but that's expensive! And not to mention, making it at home is SO much tastier and healthier! But at the end of the week sometimes the last thing I want to do is make homemade crust, homemade sauce, make the pizza and of course clean up. Finally I got smart. Instead of making dough four times a month....I should just make it once and freeze it! So if you were wondering how to freeze pizza dough - here you go!
How to Freeze Pizza Dough
Mix up your pizza dough. DO NOT LET IT RISE!!! Instead, shape it into a ball, drizzle with a little olive oil and place in a freezer bag. Don't forget to label your bag!
Then, when it's pizza day pull out your pizza dough that morning. It will slightly stick to the bag. It's ok! Pull the dough out and place in a large bowl, cover and let rise for 8 hours in a warm place. (Perfect right? Pull it out in the morning, head off to work and when you get back it will be ready!)
After the dough has risen, sprinkle your pizza pan with a little corn meal, roll your dough and top with your favorite toppings! EASY!!!
How to Freeze Pizza Dough
Mix up your pizza dough. DO NOT LET IT RISE!!! Instead, shape it into a ball, drizzle with a little olive oil and place in a freezer bag. Don't forget to label your bag!
Then, when it's pizza day pull out your pizza dough that morning. It will slightly stick to the bag. It's ok! Pull the dough out and place in a large bowl, cover and let rise for 8 hours in a warm place. (Perfect right? Pull it out in the morning, head off to work and when you get back it will be ready!)
After the dough has risen, sprinkle your pizza pan with a little corn meal, roll your dough and top with your favorite toppings! EASY!!!
How To Freeze Soup
There isn't much better on a chilly day than a nice bowl of soup. Did you know that you can freeze soup? It's really easy and I have a tip that will make it even better!
How to Freeze Soup
First, get a few tools together. I use my Food Saver for freezing soup and love it. You can also use freezer bags. If you are using freezer bags I REALLY reccommend getting a Jokari Hands-Free Baggy Rack Storage Bag Holder
. It will hold the bag for you while you fill the bag. It's really inexpensive and will save you a lot of headaches and messes!
Next, you need to decide if you are freezing a single serving of soup or if you are freezing enough for a crowd. Whichever you choose, fill your bag and seal. Lay the bag flat on a baking sheet and freeze.
When the soup is frozen, having the soup flat makes it easy to store.
You can easily spend a weekend and make a variety of soups and freeze them and have lots of dinners and lunches ready to go!
How to Freeze Soup
First, get a few tools together. I use my Food Saver for freezing soup and love it. You can also use freezer bags. If you are using freezer bags I REALLY reccommend getting a Jokari Hands-Free Baggy Rack Storage Bag Holder
. It will hold the bag for you while you fill the bag. It's really inexpensive and will save you a lot of headaches and messes! Next, you need to decide if you are freezing a single serving of soup or if you are freezing enough for a crowd. Whichever you choose, fill your bag and seal. Lay the bag flat on a baking sheet and freeze.
When the soup is frozen, having the soup flat makes it easy to store.
You can easily spend a weekend and make a variety of soups and freeze them and have lots of dinners and lunches ready to go!
Can You Freeze Yogurt? YES!
Yogurt is a great, healthy snack! But, can you freeze yogurt? The answer is yes! Freezing can extend the life of your yogurt by up to 6 months. So the next time you see some yogurt on sale or you simply can't finish what is in your refrigerator just know that you can freeze yogurt! In fact you have quite a few options!
How To Freeze Yogurt - Option 1
Since yogurt is not a solid, the freezing process can change the texture of the yogurt. But that doesn't mean it's bad! As a fun, cold treat turn that yogurt into Popsicles! You can put the entire container in the freezer and after it starts to freeze, add a Popsicle stick.
If you have a Popsicle mold you can use that!
If your kids like the yogurt in the tubes you can freeze it directly in there! For some reason the texture is not affected when you freeze it in the tubes! They can either eat it frozen or you can put it in their lunchbox and by the time lunch time arrives it will be thawed out and still cold ready for lunch!
How To Freeze Yogurt - Option 2
Another option for freezing yogurt is to make yogurt bites. Since you are making the yogurt in small quantities the freezing process doesn't change the texture as much (other than actually turning it into a solid!) Simply pour the yogurt into a piping bag (or just a plastic bag and cut a VERY small whole in the corner) and make small dots of yogurt on a piece of parchment paper. The dots will expand when they freeze. Put in the freezer. When they are frozen move to a larger bag for storage. Yogurt bites are a great snack to pull out of the freezer!
How to Freeze Yogurt - Option 3
If you like smoothies (and who doesn't?) make your own smoothie packs! Simply spoon yogurt into an ice cube tray. You can even add fruit to the yogurt if you would like! Freeze yogurt in the ice cube tray and once frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer bag or air tight container in the freezer!
You can also make up freezer smoothie packs by freezing the yogurt cubes and packing them with fruit, spinach, frozen fruit juice, etc. Then when you want a smoothie your pack is all ready to go!
How to Freeze Yogurt - Option 4
Yogurt is great for using in baking - especially Greek yogurt! You can freeze directly in the container (just remember yogurt expands when frozen!) To use, thaw in the refrigerator and stir well. The taste of your baked goods will taste the same as if your yogurt was never frozen!
So there you are! Can you freeze yogurt? Absolutely!
How To Freeze Yogurt - Option 1
Since yogurt is not a solid, the freezing process can change the texture of the yogurt. But that doesn't mean it's bad! As a fun, cold treat turn that yogurt into Popsicles! You can put the entire container in the freezer and after it starts to freeze, add a Popsicle stick.
If you have a Popsicle mold you can use that!
If your kids like the yogurt in the tubes you can freeze it directly in there! For some reason the texture is not affected when you freeze it in the tubes! They can either eat it frozen or you can put it in their lunchbox and by the time lunch time arrives it will be thawed out and still cold ready for lunch!
How To Freeze Yogurt - Option 2
Another option for freezing yogurt is to make yogurt bites. Since you are making the yogurt in small quantities the freezing process doesn't change the texture as much (other than actually turning it into a solid!) Simply pour the yogurt into a piping bag (or just a plastic bag and cut a VERY small whole in the corner) and make small dots of yogurt on a piece of parchment paper. The dots will expand when they freeze. Put in the freezer. When they are frozen move to a larger bag for storage. Yogurt bites are a great snack to pull out of the freezer!
How to Freeze Yogurt - Option 3
If you like smoothies (and who doesn't?) make your own smoothie packs! Simply spoon yogurt into an ice cube tray. You can even add fruit to the yogurt if you would like! Freeze yogurt in the ice cube tray and once frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer bag or air tight container in the freezer!
You can also make up freezer smoothie packs by freezing the yogurt cubes and packing them with fruit, spinach, frozen fruit juice, etc. Then when you want a smoothie your pack is all ready to go!
How to Freeze Yogurt - Option 4
Yogurt is great for using in baking - especially Greek yogurt! You can freeze directly in the container (just remember yogurt expands when frozen!) To use, thaw in the refrigerator and stir well. The taste of your baked goods will taste the same as if your yogurt was never frozen!
So there you are! Can you freeze yogurt? Absolutely!
How to Freeze Mashed Potatoes
Sometimes I want a nice comfort food dinner.....on a week night. But between work, kid's school (and after school) schedules, family events, and so on I don't always have a ton of time to cook. Luckily, I always have a batch of mashed potatoes in the freezer. It's nice to have at least some of the work finished and ready to go!
Did you know you could freeze mashed potatoes? It's really super simple!
How To Freeze Mashed Potatoes
Option 1: The Perfect Portion
I love freezing items in portioned out sizes. Why? It's a great way to one, keep my portion size in check. And two, keep foods from going to waste. To freeze your potatoes, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a scoop (I use a 1/2 cup scoop) to scoop your mashed potatoes . Place in the freezer. Let them freeze overnight.
The next day transfer the portioned out potatoes to a freezer bag. Don't forget to date and label! Your potatoes will stay good for at least 2 months (if they last that long!)
Option 2: Freeze a large batch of Mashed Potatoes
Freezing for individual sizes is great when you are grabbing a portion to take with you for lunch or for a small dinner. But if you are planning on dinner for your whole family or even a large crowd, having a full bag is nice to keep on hand.
(I still keep count of how many portions are in each bag!)
Simply fill a freezer bag with your desired number of portions and seal. Lay the bag flat on the baking sheet and freeze. Freezing your items flat makes them easy to stack and store in your freezer. Date and label your bags.
I use my Food Saver for freezing mashed potatoes! It works perfect!
To serve your mashed potatoes simply put the potatoes in a covered dish and microwave. I reduce the power to about 50%. Stir well. If the potatoes are watery (different varieties of potatoes will freeze differently) just add a little sour cream or even cheese to help thicken them up.
So there you go. How to freeze mashed potatoes. Now you can use that whole bag of potatoes before it goes bad and have a head start on dinner! :)
Did you know you could freeze mashed potatoes? It's really super simple!
How To Freeze Mashed Potatoes
Option 1: The Perfect Portion
I love freezing items in portioned out sizes. Why? It's a great way to one, keep my portion size in check. And two, keep foods from going to waste. To freeze your potatoes, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a scoop (I use a 1/2 cup scoop) to scoop your mashed potatoes . Place in the freezer. Let them freeze overnight.
The next day transfer the portioned out potatoes to a freezer bag. Don't forget to date and label! Your potatoes will stay good for at least 2 months (if they last that long!)
Option 2: Freeze a large batch of Mashed Potatoes
Freezing for individual sizes is great when you are grabbing a portion to take with you for lunch or for a small dinner. But if you are planning on dinner for your whole family or even a large crowd, having a full bag is nice to keep on hand.
(I still keep count of how many portions are in each bag!)
Simply fill a freezer bag with your desired number of portions and seal. Lay the bag flat on the baking sheet and freeze. Freezing your items flat makes them easy to stack and store in your freezer. Date and label your bags.
I use my Food Saver for freezing mashed potatoes! It works perfect!
To serve your mashed potatoes simply put the potatoes in a covered dish and microwave. I reduce the power to about 50%. Stir well. If the potatoes are watery (different varieties of potatoes will freeze differently) just add a little sour cream or even cheese to help thicken them up.
So there you go. How to freeze mashed potatoes. Now you can use that whole bag of potatoes before it goes bad and have a head start on dinner! :)
Friday, January 10, 2014
Can You Freeze Parsley
Can you freeze parsley? The answer is yes! Parsley is another one of those things that I just can seem to use up before it goes bad. I'm so glad that I can freeze parsley. In doing so, it ensures that I always have some on hand!
There are actually two ways to freeze parsley. Both are easy, so it is really up to your personal preference. The first is to pick off the leaves and chop. Then, place in a freezer bag and freeze.
The second way is my preferred method. In a blender,place the parsley with just enough water or olive oil to make a thick puree. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, pop out and place in a freezer bag. (Tip: I like to measure mine, so it's already measured and ready to go for recipes! I freeze mine in 1 tbsp cubes.) When you would like to use one simply put a cube directly in your dish! You can thaw the cube for items like casseroles so you can then mix it in, or for things like soup or stew, just let the cube melt and stir.
Frozen parsley is best used in cooking and not as a garnish.
There are actually two ways to freeze parsley. Both are easy, so it is really up to your personal preference. The first is to pick off the leaves and chop. Then, place in a freezer bag and freeze.
The second way is my preferred method. In a blender,place the parsley with just enough water or olive oil to make a thick puree. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, pop out and place in a freezer bag. (Tip: I like to measure mine, so it's already measured and ready to go for recipes! I freeze mine in 1 tbsp cubes.) When you would like to use one simply put a cube directly in your dish! You can thaw the cube for items like casseroles so you can then mix it in, or for things like soup or stew, just let the cube melt and stir.
Frozen parsley is best used in cooking and not as a garnish.
Can I Freeze Cheese?
I was at Target the other day and found a great deal on cheese. A really great deal. Bricks of mild cheddar cheese for only $0.66 each! So I did what any other normal person would do - and I bought 6 of them. (Don't worry - I left some for other people!)
Now the expiration date was far off, but I decided to freeze. Wait - Can I freeze cheese? YES! Yes, you can freeze cheese!
How To Freeze Cheese
First, you need to choose the cheese you would like to freeze. Hard cheese will freeze better than soft. (Think, cheddar will freeze better than Brie.)
Freezing will change the texture of the cheese, but not the taste. Shredded cheese will freeze better than large pieces of cheese. For my mild cheddar that I picked up for a steal at Target I chose to shred it. We prefer sharp cheddar for things like sandwiches, but mild cheddar is perfect for casseroles or macaroni and cheese.
Simply shred your cheese and place into a freezer bag (or an air tight container). A normal store bought bag of shredded cheese contains 2 cups (8 oz).
When you need a bag of cheese for your dinner's macaroni and cheese or casserole just simply take out a bag and thaw in the refrigerator.
Don't want shredded cheese? That's ok - you can still freeze it! Cheese can become crumbly when it is frozen (which is why the shredded works out so great - the cheese is so small it's hard to crumble!). If you don't want shredded cheese, simply cut your cheese into slices before putting it into the freezer. Make sure you put a piece of wax paper between each of your cheese slices and place it into a freezer bag and freeze.
Again, it will need to be thawed in the refrigerator.
Your cheese will be good in the freezer for up to 6 months.
So they next time you are at the grocery store and you see a great deal on cheese don't be scared to stock up because now you know that you can freeze cheese!
How To Freeze Spinach
We love spinach in our house. Ok. Correction. I love spinach. I put it in my eggs, pasta, smoothies - just about anything I can think of! But I can never finish a full container of spinach myself which means I always have spinach going to waste. Ok, another correction. I used to have spinach. I finally got smart and started to freeze spinach.
Did you know you could freeze spinach? Or more importantly, do you know how to freeze spinach?
No worries - I'm here to teach you how to freeze spinach and the best ways to use your frozen spinach!
How To Freeze Spinach
First, I like to put my spinach in a bowl of water. Just let the leaves soak for a little while. Then, rinse and pat dry. While I am letting it soak, I like to pop a cookie sheet into the freezer to get it chilled. (What? A cookie sheet? You'll see! Keep reading!)
Then, divide your spinach up. Keep in mind that once frozen, spinach will lose some of it's "crunch", which means it's great for cooking with (think eggs, dips, pasta, or casseroles), but it's not the best in say, a salad. Divide your spinach in ways that you know that you are your family will get the most use.
For me, I freeze mostly individual bags for me to add to my meals. Then, I will freeze maybe one or two larger bags for a family sized meal. And I always have a couple bags with the perfect amount for a spinach and artichoke dip. It's perfect for pulling out when we have company or an unexpected pitch in (or let's be honest, I forget to go to the store!). By sorting your portions out before freezing you can avoid pulling out some frozen spinach, using part of it and having to throw the rest of it away.
Transfer your portioned out spinach into freezer bags, squeeze all of the air out and seal tightly. Spinach is one of the few things that I do NOT use my food sealer for! The food sealer does such a great job taking all of the air out of the bags that it will also take out some of the moisture in the spinach. And you don't want that. A little moisture in there is good!
After all of your spinach is in bags, pull out your cookie sheet. Wiggle the spinach around to get the bag to lay flat. (So you have kind of a sheet of spinach). Lay them on the cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Label your bags with the date/contents (ex. Spinach - amount for spinach artichoke dip. Jan 2014)
Then the hard part. Do nothing and let it freeze!
After everything is frozen you have bags of pre-portioned, frozen spinach. And because they lay flat you have a few advantages.
1. It's easy to sprinkle in your meals - no spinach globs.
2. Your bags are easy to stack, which means your freezer can stay organized.
Quick Tips:
- When you freeze spinach it stays good for about a year!
- You don't have to thaw. Because the spinach is no clumped together - your spinach will thaw out in just a few minutes when you mix it into your dish.
- If you want cooked spinach - just empty the bag into a microwave safe dish, and microwave for a few seconds until the spinach is wilted. Add to your dish and enjoy!
Did you know you could freeze spinach? Or more importantly, do you know how to freeze spinach?
No worries - I'm here to teach you how to freeze spinach and the best ways to use your frozen spinach!
How To Freeze Spinach
First, I like to put my spinach in a bowl of water. Just let the leaves soak for a little while. Then, rinse and pat dry. While I am letting it soak, I like to pop a cookie sheet into the freezer to get it chilled. (What? A cookie sheet? You'll see! Keep reading!)
Then, divide your spinach up. Keep in mind that once frozen, spinach will lose some of it's "crunch", which means it's great for cooking with (think eggs, dips, pasta, or casseroles), but it's not the best in say, a salad. Divide your spinach in ways that you know that you are your family will get the most use.
For me, I freeze mostly individual bags for me to add to my meals. Then, I will freeze maybe one or two larger bags for a family sized meal. And I always have a couple bags with the perfect amount for a spinach and artichoke dip. It's perfect for pulling out when we have company or an unexpected pitch in (or let's be honest, I forget to go to the store!). By sorting your portions out before freezing you can avoid pulling out some frozen spinach, using part of it and having to throw the rest of it away.
Transfer your portioned out spinach into freezer bags, squeeze all of the air out and seal tightly. Spinach is one of the few things that I do NOT use my food sealer for! The food sealer does such a great job taking all of the air out of the bags that it will also take out some of the moisture in the spinach. And you don't want that. A little moisture in there is good!
After all of your spinach is in bags, pull out your cookie sheet. Wiggle the spinach around to get the bag to lay flat. (So you have kind of a sheet of spinach). Lay them on the cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Label your bags with the date/contents (ex. Spinach - amount for spinach artichoke dip. Jan 2014)
Then the hard part. Do nothing and let it freeze!
After everything is frozen you have bags of pre-portioned, frozen spinach. And because they lay flat you have a few advantages.
1. It's easy to sprinkle in your meals - no spinach globs.
2. Your bags are easy to stack, which means your freezer can stay organized.
Quick Tips:
- When you freeze spinach it stays good for about a year!
- You don't have to thaw. Because the spinach is no clumped together - your spinach will thaw out in just a few minutes when you mix it into your dish.
- If you want cooked spinach - just empty the bag into a microwave safe dish, and microwave for a few seconds until the spinach is wilted. Add to your dish and enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)