Freezing food is an easy way to reduce food waste and save yourself money. Despite their ability to prolong the life of our leftovers, freezers are often under-utilized and meals are still wasted in spite of people’s best interests. So long as you cool and store your food correctly, it is completely safe and your food will taste just as delicious the second time around. Our top tips may seem obvious, but following them stops your leftover lasagna getting lost in the back of freezer.
- COOL FOODS FIRST: When you put foods in the freezer that have not been cooled first, the bacteria will multiply within the food until frozen. Warm food can also can cause other foods in the freezer to start defrost. This can lead to spoiled food and potentially harmful levels of bacteria multiplying in the food.
- FULLLER FREEZERS SAVE MONEY: Storing more food in your freezer helps to maintain the internal temperate more efficiently. If your freezer is only partially full, the freezer has to work harder to maintain the temperature which can result in higher usage and subsequently higher energy bills.
- STORE FOOD IN SENSIBLE PORTIONS: If you store larger portions of food, there is a chance you will end up defrosting more than you need. Pre-portioning your food also saves time and money if you batch cook meals. By only taking out what you need when you need it, you avoid wasting perfectly good food and have convenience at your fingertips.
- DATE AND LABEL EVERYTHING: Knowing when you put food in the freezer ensures you consume meals before they potentially become unsafe to eat. It also aids with meal planning, so you don’t defrost things you don’t need, and prevents you buying something you already have.
- KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE: Use an app or a notebook to keep an eye on what you’re storing in your freezer, including the date items were frozen.