Double Up Food Bucks makes it easy to stock up on your favorite fruits and vegetables, but sometimes it can be a challenge to use all of your market finds before it’s too late. Freezing food is a great way to save money, make mealtimes more convenient, and get the most potential out of your Double Up Food Bucks. Here are some tips on how to utilize your freezer in a way that will benefit you, your wallet and the whole family!
Choosing the right container
The most effective and affordable freezing containers are freezer-safe plastic (BPA-free) and glass containers with lids, or aluminum pans with lids. Investing in a few good containers will help cut down on waste and the need to buy new bags every time you need to store something. Labeling everything with the proper date and type of food is also important, as this will ensure you are safely consuming any food you freeze for later use.
Choosing what to freeze
There are tons of delicious fruits and veggies to enjoy in the summer and fall in Arizona, and you can check out this guide to see what is in season now! Many of these items can be frozen to be used later as snacks or in recipes. Blueberries, mangoes, pineapples, peaches and most other stone fruits freeze really well when stored properly. Washing and portioning them into smaller sizes is recommended so they can be used in various recipes. Frozen fruits also make a great snack in warm Arizona temperatures.
Summer vegetables can also easily be stored, but many require cooking before freezing for the best results. Squash can be roasted and then divided up and frozen to be used any time you need an easy side dish or meal. Other vegetables require blanching, which means you will need to drop the veggies in boiling water briefly and then cool down with icy water before packaging and freezing. Kale, spinach, corn, and carrots should be blanched for 2-3 minutes before placing in cold water, draining, and packaging into portions for later recipes. Another great way to utilize your veggies is by making your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic and freezing it in a glass jar with a plastic lid. You can take this out later for a quick and delicious spaghetti night!
Summer vegetables can also easily be stored, but many require cooking before freezing for the best results. Squash can be roasted and then divided up and frozen to be used any time you need an easy side dish or meal. Other vegetables require blanching, which means you will need to drop the veggies in boiling water briefly and then cool down with icy water before packaging and freezing. Kale, spinach, corn, and carrots should be blanched for 2-3 minutes before placing in cold water, draining, and packaging into portions for later recipes. Another great way to utilize your veggies is by making your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic and freezing it in a glass jar with a plastic lid. You can take this out later for a quick and delicious spaghetti night!
Spice it up!
Herbs such as basil, cilantro, thyme, and rosemary can wilt pretty quickly. With this easy and convenient trick, you can Double Up on your favorite herbs and use them to enhance every meal. When stored properly, you may just be eating your summer basil all the way to next spring!
In Arizona, our farmers markets provide access to so many delicious fruits and vegetables throughout the seasons. Double Up on your favorite produce now and freeze it to stretch your food dollars, save time, and enjoy delicious flavors all year long!
