Sarah Levesque, Sustainability Director NU Dining
One of the best tools at reducing food waste can be found in almost any kitchen: a freezer! This invention can be overlooked as just ice cream or ice cube storage but once you start fully utilizing your freezer it can change your life and cut down on food waste!
Some of the easiest things to freeze simply by putting them in an air tight plastic bag or tupperware include:
· Breads
· Soups/stocks
· Butter
· Pancake and muffin batters
· Proteins, animal and plant based (including tofu!)
· Chopped herbs
· Ginger root
· Risotto
· And more!
With minimal effort you can also freeze any fresh fruit or vegetable by blanching them first. All you have to do is place the veggie into a pot of boiling water for 1-2 minutes then drain the water and put the veggie into ice water until it is cool. Then you can put it in an air tight plastic bag or Tupperware.
For some fruits and veggies like fresh berries you can put them onto a baking tray in a single row then once it is frozen you can transfer to an air tight container.
Some creative ways to use your freezer to reduce food waste include:
· Put fresh chopped herbs (store bought or home grown) into ice cube trays then cover with olive oil. Use the cubes while cooking to get extra flavor! A variation is to mash the herbs into a soft butter and roll into a log then cut off bits of the frozen log to use while cooking.
· Do some meal prep when making large dishes like casseroles. You can pre-portion the meals so all you have to do is defrost the individual portion when you’re ready to eat.
· Throw your favorite marinade into a bag with individual potions of chicken, beef, or pork. This way as you defrost the portion your also marinating the protein
· Use the heels of bread loaves to make breadcrumbs and store it in your freezer for later
For more information on how to freeze any item check out the FoodKeeper app and click here for more information on Stop Food Waste Day.