Turning a cold shoulder can sometimes be a good thing.
Not all things in the kitchen involve heat and flame.
What kind of relationship do you have with your freezer?
While this is the coldest place in the kitchen, it can be a place of warmth and kindness.
With wise use of this often under appreciated appliance, you can save time, money, and stress when it comes to answering the most important question of the day, “What’s for dinner?”.
Turn A Cold Shoulder To Cooking
For most of us, meal preparation is a challenge.
We don’t have the right ingredients on hand for a meal, we have to stop at the store for a special ingredient, and maybe we’d prefer just to have something on hand that can be warmed up.
Your freezer is now your new best friend forever.
Planning Makes All the Difference
Think of it as a treasure chest of meals.
Make a deposit and return later for food that has been preserved and available to you exactly when you need it.
Some things you’ll always find in my freezer, bread, nuts, salmon filets, and bacon, vegetable stock, and leftover meals.
Using the Right Tools and Techniques
It’s easy to freeze foods.
Plastic freezer bags and plastic containers of varying sizes will help you package things appropriately.
You can also use tempered glassware to freeze pasta sauce and stock. Be sure to leave headspace space in the jar for expansion.
And don’t forget to label things.
You think you’ll remember what that hard lump of frozen matter is, but trust me you won’t.
Keep a sharpie and masking tape handy in the kitchen at all times to provide a quick labeling solution. Include the name of the item and the date it was frozen on the label.
Remember Food Safety
The FDA recommends frozen food should be used or discarded after two months.
And remember to use your refrigerator as your thawing space, not your kitchen counter.
You want to avoid the possibility that the food will get too warm and thus a breeding ground for bacteria.
So, come into the cold to enjoy cooking and serving great meals.
Winter temperatures never felt so good.