Tip of the Day!

[Bergy]

Another Tip!

Chipitoles in Adobo. LOVE the stuff. But sometimes, ONE (1) can is too much.

So, puree the entire can, or mash it up with a fork. FREEZE in ice cube trays. I add 1 tablespoon per cube and freeze, then add to a baggie. Instant chipotle in adobo without wasting anything. Just remove a cube and it is approximately equal to 1-1/2 chipotles chopped. Takes just a minute, a works great.

They last months in the freezer. And, after you thaw them, they still will last a good couple of weeks in the fridge.

Great tip Sue . I have just been putting them in a jar and freeze but your idea is much better.

[Bergy]

I keep my shredded cooking cheeses in the freezer including crumbled Feta. I just got tired of throwing out the remains of my feta.

[Kchurchill5]

Another good tip B.

And Parmesan Cheese Rinds
I do buy grated parm as a convenience now and then; but, I also have a nice chunk of the good stuff as well. But, we don't grate the rinds do we? So, DO NOT throw them out. They are fantastic added to a pot of soup. They offer a subtle flavor without actually adding any cheese.

[HeatherFeather]

Whenever I buy a large amount of any kind of ground meat, when I get it home I portion out the meat into 1/2 pound portions, then fill small freezer bags, press them flat so they before the same square shape as the baggie, then seal & freeze. Whenever I need only a little ground meat to add to something, or just want to make 1-2 burgers, I can very easily grab a package and it thaws very quickly. If I need more, I can always just pull out extra packages. They also store very neatly in the freezer that way.

[Kchurchill5]

Great tip HF.

I know not everyone has BIG freezers; but, buying in bulk is helpful. And, like HF said; press them flat and freeze. A great way, when you don't need a large portion.

Works for soups too, freeze the baggie flat. You can store a lot more that way.

[racrgal]

If you are freezing "ice cube" portions of goodies (the previously mentioned chipotle in adobo, lemon juice, lime juice, herbs in oil, etc) to use later be sure to store those cubes in the big freezer NOT the freezer for your self defrosting fridge. When the fridge freezer defrosts, it partially thaws those cubes. They end up stuck together and are more difficult to use. They stay separate in the deep freezer, unless you have a self defrosting deep freeze.

[Kchurchill5]

What is a self defrosting fridge. I have a regular side by side. Is it called self defrosting? Never heard that before, I'm curious.

Never had an issue before with anything thawing lightly. I would love to know more. I have a regular stand up freezer in the garage and my side by side. Never had anything stick or lightly thaw.

[racrgal]

KC, the self defrosting fridges are the "frost free" models. To accomplish that frost free feature, they go through small defrosting cycles. Depending on the type of food and how long you store it in that freezer, it can lump together due to the defrosting cycles.

A frost-free freezer has three basic parts:
A timer
A heating coil
A temperature sensor
Every six hours or so, the timer turns on the heating coil. The heating coil is wrapped among the freezer coils. The heater melts the ice off the coils. When all of the ice is gone, the temperature sensor senses the temperature rising above 32 degrees F (0 degrees C) and turns off the heater.
Heating the coils every six hours takes energy, and it also cycles the food in the freezer through temperature changes. Most large chest freezers therefore require manual defrosting instead -- the food lasts longer and the freezer uses less power.

This is why frost doesn't build up in the new fridge freezers.

[Kchurchill5]

OK, good to know. Didn't know that by that name. Makes sense. Never had anything clump; but, I can see how it could.

Sometimes, veggies in my door, will do that, but not the main freezer part.
Interesting.

[Dissie]

This is one I have posted here before (On Zazz, not this thread), and Kim can concur its really a pretty great tip. You can freeze your garden fresh tomatoes whole. Do not cut, do nothing. Just freeze them whole in the skins, even with the leaves still on in a large baggie. You can freeze any size too, works on little or big ones! When you are ready to use them, they won't all clump together either, if they are dry when you put them in the baggie, just grab what you want and while still frozen run them under hot tap water. The skins come right off in your hand. Place them in a bowl to defrost all the way, and drain off any liquid, and use in any recipe. You can't use them in a salad, as they are now mush from being frozen, but its a great way to preserve your tomatoes fresh from the garden for soups or sauces.