Your freezer can be your best friend and a “pause button” to prevent food from spoiling. Freezing allows you to rescue leftovers, save your extra fruits and vegetables, and make bread, dairy or meat last longer.

When you freeze food:

• Always freeze in portions you will want later so you don’t have to spend too much time defrosting and separating food.
• Leave a little extra space in your container for liquids to expand when frozen.
• Label and date everything.

Learn in-depth information with this Art of Freezing guide from Save the Food.

There are many foods you might not have thought to freeze before. Here are a few examples:

• Freeze avocados in chunks to use for guacamole or smoothies. This guide from Attainable Sustainable gives tips on how to freeze them for best results.
• Whole, yolks, or cooked eggs can be frozen. This guide from The Spruce Eats has great advice.
• Freeze extra coffee, milk, half and half or heavy cream in an ice cube tray.
• Soft but unspoiled grapes make great crunchy frozen snacks.
• Freeze flavorful pastes such as tomato, pesto, or curry in tablespoon portions.

Become a food-saving pro by trying additional food preservation methods such as canning, infusing, pickling, fermenting, or drying.

Most food preservation processes use temperature, acid, salt, sugar, or a combination of these factors to prevent microorganisms from spoiling the food. Food safety is important, so be sure to follow proven methods from reputable sources.

The University of Minnesota Extension offers a variety of resources on food preservation. Start with their guide on preservation methods or watch short videos on the basics, including past recordings of food courses.

Local co-op grocery stores or your school district’s community education might offer  classes, especially during late summer. Tap into your community knowledge by asking friends, family members or neighbors to share their skills with you.

The Zero Waste Chef is another go-to source that includes recipes and suggestions on food preservation.

As you wrap up the Stop Food Waste Challenge, reflect on what went well and what you learned. Jenny Kedward, Food Waste Prevention Specialist with Hennepin County, will share tips on storing food to make it last including end-of-season harvest preservation tips.

Register for the webinar.