10 Foods You're Not Freezing, but Definitely Should Be
Freezer Friendly
If you’ve ever tried to freeze and reheat a bowl of cooked pasta or a handful of soggy french fries, you know that some foods aren’t exactly freezer friendly.
That said, you’d be surprised what some r/Frugal Redditors do freeze in the name of frugality and convenience. The eyebrow-raising foods include eggs, heavy cream, and avocado, all three of which we've recommended against freezing in the past. But in the interest of being open minded, saving you money, and reducing food waste, we compiled a list of some of the most unexpected freezer-friendly foods, according to Redditors.
Editor's Note: This story was updated in April 2024.
Avocado
Add avocados to the list of fruits that freeze well. All you have to do is scoop out the halves, slice them up, and put them on a lined baking sheet or plate. Once they’re frozen, you can thaw them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, throw them in a smoothie, or store them in a sandwich baggie.
Grated Cheese
Throwing a bag of grated cheese in the freezer just feels … wrong. But multiple Redditors say that shredded cheese fares better than blocks or slices. Either thaw it ahead of time or have it melt into a hot dish like lasagne.
Tofu
Tofu may be one of the only foods that improves after sitting in the freezer. The water in the tofu expands, according to Bon Appetit, giving it an extra chewy, spongy texture that’ll soak up sauces and soups.
Pancakes and Waffles
Forget Eggo. Freeze your own pancakes and waffles and heat them up in the toaster for an easy breakfast.
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Garlic and Ginger
Instead of tossing head after head of sprouted garlic in the trash, you can peel and mince the cloves while they’re fresh and freeze them. Ginger also freezes well, with one Redditor claiming that the root doesn’t even lose its potency.
Related: 24 Healthy Recipes You'll Never Know Were Made With Frozen Produce
Heavy Cream
Have you ever purchased a carton of heavy cream for a recipe, only to throw the rest of it out? Next time, just pour your excess cream into an ice cube tray, one commenter recommends. Toss the cubes in soups, pasta dishes, smoothies, etc.
Cake
Cheesecake, pound cake, brownies — they all freeze well, and you don’t even have to defrost them. Frozen cheesecake is “delicious,” one Redditor writes. Just be sure to pre-cut them before freezing.
Sauteed Mushrooms
If you freeze your mushrooms, you’ll never have to pay full price again, one Redditor writes. Just wait for when there’s a fungi fire sale, and then saute and freeze the discount shrooms.
Goat Cheese
While it’s hard to imagine that they’re freezing their chevre in France, Redditors say that goat cheese defrosts well for salads. Plus, it’s easier to cut when it’s half frozen.
Scrambled Eggs
When you look up foods you shouldn’t freeze, eggs are usually at the top of the list. But one free-thinking Redditor says that they’ll scramble a few (uncooked) eggs and throw them in the freezer for baking and omelets.
This article was originally published on Cheapism
