Eight food items you never knew you could freeze

Overdone the panic buying? Experts from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed eight of the more surprising food items that can be safely frozen and eaten at a later date.

Eggs, chocolate and even cooked pasta have been named in a list of surprising foods which can be frozen.

Penny-pinching gurus from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk is advising of eiight of the lesser-known food items that can be safely stored in a freezer, to help households save money and cut down on food wastage.

By storing food at below zero degrees the conditions are frozen, preserving the food as potentially harmful molecules enter a dormant state.

Most foods will last at least three months in the freezer, so you can defrost and eat at a later date.

But it’s important that once food is defrosted it isn’t then refrozen, as this can lead to illnesses.

A spokesperson from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Food waste costs Brits a lot of money, plus, it’s really bad for the environment. By learning some of the surprising things you can freeze you’re helping save the world and your bank account – what’s not to love?

“Freezers can become messy quickly, so try and freeze food as flat as possible, and get rid of any excess packaging to help keep some order.”

This is NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s list of eight surprising food items you can freeze:

1. Eggs

The shell of eggs can’t be frozen, but everything else can. Crack the eggs into a muffin tray, then place these into the freezer. Once fully frozen they can be transferred into a plastic container, creating even more space.

2. Cheese

This can be frozen as a full block, or if you mainly use it grated, you can grate the block and freeze it, meaning you can grab handfuls of cheese as and when you need it. Anything from mozzarella to parmesan can cope with being put in the freezer, but be warned, cottage cheese may react badly.

3. Milk

Frozen milk should be thawed before it is used and be sure to give it a big shake before you pour it to ensure all the solids and liquids have been fully mixed. Milk will also expand when it’s frozen, so don’t put it in a tight container.

4. Bread

This should be frozen when fresh otherwise it will still be a bit stale once defrosted. You can freeze it as a full loaf, or in individual slices if this is easier. You can then leave your bread to thaw naturally or pop it straight into the toaster.

5. Chocolate

Chocolate doesn’t contain much water which means that it won’t change as much as other items when frozen and defrosted. Put the chocolate in the fridge for a few hours before placing it into the freezer as this will help bring the temperature down slowly, reducing the risk of the flavour or appearance changing.

6/7. Rice and Pasta

It’s impossible to make the right amount of pasta or rice, but next time instead of throwing the excess away, you can freeze it. Place it onto a flat baking tray and into the freezer. Once fully frozen you can then transfer them into a different container. Simply pour hot water over the rice or pasta to defrost and recook.

8. Yogurt

Fro-yo is an increasingly popular dessert which you can enjoy at home too. Some yoghurts can be affected by the freezing process, so it’s important to try freezing a small amount before to ensure the taste isn’t affected dramatically.