25 things you may not know you could freeze and that will save you tons of time

Fixing food takes a lot of time, and a vast majority of that time is spent doing prep. work. Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to eat the fresh fruits and vegetables that you love or the homemade meals without having to spend hours preparing the food in the kitchen? If you know which foods to freeze and how to freeze them, you may be able to eliminate a lot of your prep. time.

If you like to drink smoothies or bake with fruits, freezing them is a great way to get the taste of fresh fruit without having to prepare them every time you want to use them. Freezing vegetables ahead of time will allow you to simply dump them into whatever dish you are making and be good to go. Frozen rice and pastas can provide meals on-the-go or cut down on the time the family has to wait for the meal to be prepared. Freezing sandwiches can allow you to make a number at the start of the week or month and keep you from having to do the same activity every night. 

Economy of motion is something that has been capitalized on since the industrial revolution, and sometimes that's what people need to do in the kitchen. Preparing foods in bulk will give you the freedom to spend more time with your friends and family or doing the things you love.

Just about any fruit can be frozen and will keep up to six months. Be sure to wash and prep. your fruit ahead of time. Once a Month Meals states that bananas, all types of berries and pineapple can be frozen. I Love Vegan adds mangoes, peaches and nectarines to the list. Simply prepare the fruit the way you want to use it, lay it out on cookie sheets lined with wax paper and allow it freeze overnight. Then, place the fruit into single-serving size freezer bags and place them back in the freezer. One word of caution, North Carolina Blueberries states that blueberries should never be washed before freezing as that causes the skins to be tough. Just rinse them before you use them. 

For those who use onions in their cooking, Eating on a Dime points out how you can save yourself a lot of time by chopping a lot of onions at once and then freezing the excess in a freezer bag. When you need more, pull the bag out, bang it on the counter to loosen the onions and throw the frozen pieces into whatever you're making. 

Most of the rest of the vegetable need to blanched before they are frozen. Eating Well walks you step-by-step through the blanching process. Once that is done, freeze them using the same process as the fruits. Frozen veggies will keep anywhere from six months to one year. Some of the common vegetables you may want to freeze are bell peppers, peas, corn and broccoli. 

Dairy products can also be frozen. Once a Month Meals shares that the higher the amount of fat each product contains, the better it will freeze without having problems when it thaws. Unsalted butter that is individually wrapped will keep up to six months in the freezer and salted butter, up to nine months. Milk, buttermilk and creams can all be frozen. Be sure to leave one-half inch of head space for expansion in the container. When thawed, the products will need to be whisked together. ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen states that sour cream and yogurt should not be frozen. Cheeses can be, but they will be crumbly upon thawing, so shred or cube before freezing.

If your family is big on rice, then cooking up a large batch and then freezing it could be a great time saver. Kitchn recommends taking the extra rice and placing it into freezer bags and laying them flat in your freezer. This keeps the grains from clumping together. This technique is great for whole grain white and brown rice, quinoa, Bulgar, barley and buckwheat. When you're ready to use it, "microwave with a little water or heat over low heat in a heavy-bottom saucepan, adding a little liquid as necessary."

Prepared food and meals 

When cooking, making extra of a meal can mean less work later. Kitchn states that pasta can be frozen, but don't overcook the noodles before freezing, or they will be mushy when thawed. You can place them in freezer bags or toss them in olive oil and lay them on a baking sheet in the freezer until frozen. Sauces can be frozen in ice cube trays to make individual-sized sauce servings or in larger quantities for a family. Frost Bite shares how to freeze sandwiches. Almost anything on a sandwich can be frozen, but the site does point out that certain items should be avoided: lettuce, tomatoes, egg salad, and mayonnaise. Martha Stewart points out that freezing extra bread is a great way to keep it from getting moldy before it gets used. Let it fully cool, double wrap it in clear plastic bags and place it into the freezer.

Whenever you are working with food, making sure you are being wise and handling it properly is very important. UNL Food gives great tips to follow when freezing meals. Be wise as you put your freezer to good use, saving yourself time and energy so that you have more time to spend with the ones you love.