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Ask Tess: Freezing Foods for Storage

A reader asks what types of foods can be frozen for longer term storage.

Hi Tess,

I have a couple of questions regarding freezing food:

1) Can bread be frozen and what special preparation should be done?

2) Can dairy products be frozen (ie, milk, butter etc.) and what special preparation should be done?

John

Answer:

Hi John,

Bread is a staple in many homes, especially during the school year.  Because it gets stale so quickly it is also the subject of frequent markdowns at the grocery store.  Luckily, it can be frozen for up to 6 months if packaged properly.  Because the bags that bread comes in from the store are not sealed tightly, simply wrap them in a layer of tinfoil and then place the loaf inside a freezer bag for best results.  You can thaw the entire loaf or take out a slice at a time and pop it in the toaster or oven when you need it.

Many dairy products can also be stored in the freezer for later use.  Milk, hard cheese, cottage cheese, and butter can all be frozen. Yogurt and sour cream do not fare well when frozen and thawed, however.  Freeze dairy products in the original containers. Be sure to allow them to thaw completely, since fat and liquid defrost at separate rates. Cheese will be very crumbly in texture when it thaws, but works well in dishes where shredded cheese is desired.

I hope this helps!

Tess

This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on August 6th, 2013