100 Frugal Tips in 100 Days: Tip # 13

Tip # 13 Freeze perishables



There are so many things that can be frozen and used at a later time. Have you ever bought fresh fruits and vegetables or a package of meat with good intentions to use it all only to have all or some of it go bad a week later?

Aside from the obvious things that freeze well (chicken, ground beef/turkey, fruits and veggies), there are tons of other foods that you can stock up on when they are on sale and simply keep them in your freezer. My favorites include shredded cheese, butter, and bread).

There are some items that don't necesarily freeze well as a whole, but if you cut it into pieces or throw it into the food processor and freeze individual portions, you can save a lot of money. (Think onions, peppers, etc). How often have you been cooking and the recipe calls for "half of an onion" or some other vegetable? You can double the recipe, or prepare and freeze the other half of the ingredient for a later date.

Don't forget to label your items so you know when you froze them! Ziploc freezer bags work great if you don't have a Food Vac.

Here are some helpful freezer tips to get you started.