Meat – Although it is perfectly safe for you to freeze your meat in store packaging, it is best that you repackage it yourself, for longer storage, and to protect it from freezer burn. Start by washing your hands and providing yourself with a clean workspace. Cut away the excess fat, place in a plastic bag or FoodSaver, and freeze. Frozen meat should be good for 6 – 12 months.
Yogurt – I have heard mixed reviews on freezing yogurt. I have frozen it before in the past and have had no problems, although some people say it turns out lumpy and watery. In any case, if you have some extra yogurt that you won’t be able to use before it expires, try making yogurt pops. Kids really like these, and they are healthy. If you have yogurt cups, simply cut a small hole or make a slice in the center of the cup and insert a wooden Popsicle stick. Place in freezer. After they are frozen, peel or cut away the cup and enjoy! You can also do this with the tubs of yogurt by dividing it into small plastic Dixie cups.
Pudding – Using the same as above, make pudding pops! The kids will go crazy for these!
Pancakes – This is a way for kids to make their own breakfast in the morning. Make up a big batch of pancakes and set aside. After they have cooled, start stacking them, placing a piece of wax paper between each one. Place in plastic bag or other freezer container and freeze. The wax paper helps them from sticking together and makes it easier to separate them. To cook, just pull out however many you want and pop them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, depending on your microwave. You can also use your toaster or toaster oven to heat the pancakes up.
Read part 1 of this series here.
Read part 2 of this series here.
Read part 3 of this series here.