A mum-of-two, Kate Hall, has gone viral for sharing her genius freezer food hacks that she claims can save families hundreds of pounds each year. She understands the importance of stretching every penny, especially when it comes to feeding your family. Research from AO.com reveals that we each throw away around £450 worth of essential groceries annually, including staples like bread, milk, and cheese. To combat this waste, Kate offers practical advice for maximizing your groceries and minimizing your spending.
According to Kate, we waste an astounding 53 portions of fruit and vegetables each year, costing us around £272.48 annually. She emphasizes that freezing fruit and vegetables is a simple and effective way to prevent them from going bad. While frozen fruit may not be ideal for fresh eating, it’s perfect for smoothies or baking. Simply wash, dry, and chop the fruit before freezing it on a lined tray to prevent clumping. Once frozen, transfer them to freezer bags for easy storage.
Vegetables can also be frozen using a similar technique, with some exceptions. Broccoli and cauliflower are best blanched before freezing, meaning you briefly boil them and then shock them in ice water. This helps preserve their color, texture, and flavor. After blanching, open-freeze the vegetables on a tray and then transfer them to a freezer bag. Always cook frozen vegetables straight from the freezer for the best results.
Bread is another culprit of food waste, with an average of 51 wasted loaves per year. To combat this, Kate advises against storing bread in the refrigerator, as it will make it stale faster. Instead, freeze it. If your freezer is full, simply freeze individual slices in a large freezer bag. These slices can be toasted straight from frozen or defrosted at room temperature. Remember to keep the bread wrapped during thawing to prevent it from drying out.
Milk is another common grocery item that often gets wasted. We typically throw away milk every 10 days, costing us £33.80 per year. To maximize the shelf life of your milk, Kate suggests storing it in the main body of the fridge rather than the door, as the door is typically warmer. Decant the milk into a tightly sealed bottle to prevent spills. This can extend the milk’s lifespan by up to three days.
If you still struggle to use your milk fast enough, freezing it is a viable option. Kate recommends freezing milk in usable portions, flat in freezer bags. This allows for quick defrosting in a bowl of cold water when needed for porridge, tea, or other recipes. Frozen milk may appear yellow and might separate when thawed, but this is normal and can be remedied by giving it a good shake.
Meat and fish are also susceptible to waste, typically thrown away every 10-12 days, costing around £249.60 per year. Kate emphasizes the importance of freezing meat and fish to prevent spoilage. However, she recommends freezing them in ways that make them convenient to use later. For instance, divide large packs of minced meat into smaller portions and freeze them flat in freezer bags, saving space and speeding up defrosting.
Sausages and fish fillets can also be frozen individually, especially if you’ve opened a pack and don’t need all of it. Freeze raw leftovers in their original packaging, enclosed in a freezer bag, and away from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. Once frozen solid, remove the original packaging, squeeze out the air from the bag, and reseal it.
Cheese is another significant source of food waste, costing us around £108.42 per year. Hard and semi-hard cheeses like cheddar and gouda freeze best when grated before freezing. This allows for easy use straight from the freezer. Parmesan can also be grated from frozen using a microplane grater.
Semi-soft cheeses like mozzarella can be torn or cut into bite-sized pieces and added directly to pizzas and pasta before cooking. Softer cheeses should be portioned into usable quantities and tightly wrapped before freezing to protect them from the cold air. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them slowly in the fridge before moving them to room temperature to serve.
In addition to these major food items, we also waste smaller amounts of yoghurt, potatoes, stock cubes, eggs, and herbs. These small amounts may seem insignificant, but they add up to a substantial amount of food waste and wasted money over time.
By implementing Kate’s clever freezer food hacks, you can significantly reduce your food waste and save hundreds of pounds per year. Freezing is a simple, effective, and cost-saving method for preserving food and ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
