Freezer Essentials 

These are items that you typically purchase and immediately put into the freezer. You then remove food from the freezer and a) defrost it, or b) cook it immediately. Here are a list of some helpful food-freezer items and some top tips: 

Chips – Chips are incredibly versatile and can be paired with lots of different foods to give you a yummy meal. They are fairly quick to cook and come in many varieties such as pre-seasoned, curly fries, thick-cut chips, and more! 

Nuggets/fish bites/Quorn nuggets – these can be paired with chips to create a quick and easy meal, especially after a long day or a night out! Add some veggies and condiments if desired! 

Frozen vegetables – This is a cost-effective and waste-reducing product that you can add to dishes (e.g., sauces, curries) or serve alongside meals. Buying frozen veg is much cheaper than buying lots of fresh food and throwing it away once it goes off. Recommendations include: chopped onion, frozen spinach, chopped carrots, sweetcorn, and peas. Remember – if you buy fresh veg, you can also freeze this! 

Frozen fruit/berries – It can often be cheaper for buy frozen fruit that fresh fruit. These can be added to desserts, smoothies, or yoghurts as a cheap topping. 

Emergency ready meal – This could be Mac & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, etc… just something that can be cooked quickly if you every run out of food! Make sure to stir the food when cooking to ensure it gets hot all the way through. 

A sweet treat – Ice cream, a hot pudding, etc… Perfect for after a long day when you want a snack without a long-prep time. 

Top Tips: 

Don’t leave food out to defrost -  This can lead to food poisoning - defrost food in the fridge or use the defrost setting in the microwave. 

If you have leftover food, freeze it – pop them in a tupperware container or freezable bag – and remember to freeze in usable portions so you don’t waste any food when reheating. 

Always cool foods first – Never put hot foods into the fridge or freezer – this will increase the general temperature of the fridge/freezer and could affect other foods. 

Freeze flat, then store vertically – this is the best way to maximise space – especially if you only have one drawer or shelf. 

Defrosting – you can defrost food overnight. Put frozen food on a tray at the bottom of the fridge (so any liquid don’t drip onto other people’s food!) or during the working day.