When you have an abundance of fresh produce an easy way to store them is in the freezer.
A surprisingly large selection of fruits and veggies can be frozen “as is” or you can wash and chop them in a way that’s easy to pull out and cook with later. This won’t take long and will make cooking that much easier when it’s time to use these yummy foods. Cutting fruits and vegetables also allows you to pack them in tighter, giving you more space in the freezer. Consider storing them with an exact measurement label for easy use.
This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the products I have recommended, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosures.
Let’s run through the variety of things you may choose to freeze.
Fresh Berries
Berries are one of the easiest fruits to freeze and they are best frozen whole. I have found freezing them flat on a cookie sheet before storing them makes them easier to use later.
Keep them in a freezer bag, then pour them out as needed to top oatmeal, make smoothies, or bake a pie.
Other fruits like peaches, bananas, and pineapple freeze well, but it’s easier to peel, and chop them first.
Apples and pears don’t freeze as well, they tend to turn brown. One method that some people have had success with is soaking them for a few minutes in a salt bath. If you have time turn them into pie filling first and then freeze.
Grapes are another challenging fruit, they can be frozen but don’t thaw well. If you have too many grapes, toss them in the freezer and eat them frozen or use them to cool a drink without diluting it.
Fresh Vegetables
A wide variety of vegetables can also be rinsed, chopped and frozen.
- Green beans
- Peas
- Squash
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower and the list goes on.
If you see it in the frozen food section at the grocery store, chances are it will freeze just fine. Rinse the produce as it comes out of the garden or from the farmers market, chop it and put it in freezer bags. Make sure you try to remove as much air as possible.
You can even freeze potatoes if you peel and grate them first.
An easy option for future meals is to sauté peppers, onions and carrots and then freeze. This is a quick base for many meals that can save you time.
Don’t forget to label everything well.
Fresh Tomatoes
Tomatoes tend to be a class of their own. If you don’t have the time to do anything with them right away, chop and freeze them. Because of the water content just be mindful how you pack them. You will have to use the whole pack at one time. Use them in green smoothies, to make salsa or to make pasta sauce and tomato soup down the road.
If you have the time, consider cooking a sauce or soup now and then freezing it. This also makes it much easier to put together a meal down the road.
Grab a container of frozen tomato soup, slowly heat it up on the stove while you make a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches and dinner is done. And there’s nothing more convenient than a batch of tomato sauce to pull together a quick dinner.
Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs can also be frozen, but they can be a little tricky. The easiest way to do it is to wash and chop your herbs and scoop them into ice cube trays. Top them with water, chicken broth, or olive oil and freeze until solid. At that point you can pop them out of the ice cube tray and put them in a freezer bag for longer storage. Rinse and repeat as needed. Throughout the year whenever you want to brighten the flavor of a dish, just add one of the frozen herb cubes to the pot.
Finally, try making your favorite freezer friendly meals with the leftover produce. Soups and stews work well as do pot pies and casseroles. Cook up a big batch of chili or vegetable soup. Serve some for dinner and freeze the rest for a rainy day.
