Freezing festive food

The festive season brings an abundance of delicious food, and summer offers a bounty of fresh produce. However, managing the excess can be a challenge. Freezing is an excellent solution to keep your food fresh, reduce waste, and ensure you can enjoy your festive and summer treats long after the celebrations are over.

Here’s how to freeze your festive and summer produce effectively, including some unexpected items that can be frozen from your grazing table or charcuterie board.

What Can Be Frozen?

Fruits and Vegetables:

• Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries can be frozen and used later in smoothies, desserts, jams and coulis or in baking.
• Stone Fruits: Peaches, plums, and apricots can be sliced and frozen for later use in pies, cakes, or smoothies.
• Vegetables: Corn, peas, and beans freeze well. Blanch them first to maintain their colour and texture. Capsicum can also be frozen, chop, slice or dice and freeze in a single layer on a tray before transferring into a labelled freezer bag.

Meats and Seafood:

• Cooked Ham and Turkey: Freeze leftover slices of ham and turkey. These can be thawed and used on pizza, in pies, soups, or casseroles.
• Seafood: Shrimp, fish, and other seafood can be frozen. Ensure they are tightly wrapped to prevent freezer burn.

Baked Goods:

• Bread and Rolls: Freeze any leftover bread or rolls from your festive meals. They can be thawed and reheated when needed. If they are feeling dry, splash with water before heating in the oven.
• Cakes and Cookies: Most cakes (excluding those with delicate icing) and cookies can be frozen. Wrap them individually for easy thawing.

Nuts, Dips and Spreads:

Nuts from your grazing table can also be frozen to maintain their freshness. Store them in an airtight container to prevent them from absorbing other freezer odours.

Many dips, such as hummus and pesto, can be frozen. Place them in small, airtight containers for easy portioning or freeze them in ice cube trays before transferring into a resealable bag.

See more items you can freeze 👇

Use Proper Containers: Invest in quality airtight containers or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn and keep your food fresh.

Label Everything: Always label your containers with the contents and the date they were frozen, our Eat Me First stickers are great for this. This helps you keep track of what needs to be used first.

Freeze in Portions: Freeze food in portions that you’re likely to use at one time. This makes it easier to thaw only what you need and prevents waste.

Cool Before Freezing: Ensure food is completely cool before freezing. This prevents ice crystals from forming and preserves the texture of your food.

Leave Space: When using containers, leave a little space at the top. Liquids expand when they freeze, and you don’t want your containers to burst.

First In, First Out: Arrange your freezer with older items at the front and newer items at the back. This way, you use the older items first and reduce waste.

Chill Out and Freeze

By following these tips, you can effectively manage your festive food and summer produce, reduce waste, and enjoy your favourite foods well beyond the holiday season. Remember, freezing is not just about saving food – it’s about maintaining the quality and ensuring that every bite is as enjoyable as the first. ‘Chill Out’ and make the most of your festive and summer fun by freezing excess food!