Take the guesswork out of freezing food with these handy tips

From what to put those leftovers in, to freezer position and labelling, cold storing food will save you time, money and effort in the kitchen.

Whether you're a make-ahead meal planner or can't stand to see leftovers go to waste, these tips for freezing food will help keep you (and your freezer) organised

Is freezing food bad?

First of all, let's address the elephant in the room. It's a global myth that freezing food is unhealthy or bad for you.

As long as it’s done properly, freezing food will lock in nutrients and freshness so your items are just as good as the day they went in the freezer.

That's kind of the point!

Which foods freeze well?

While you can technically freeze almost anything, some foods freeze better than others.

A quick run down on the best foods to freeze is as follows:

1. Fruit
2. Blanched vegetables
3. Raw and cooked meat
4. Butter
5. Cookies
6. Savoury muffins

A few handy tips

Stay cold: Make sure your freezer is 0°F. Check your refrigerator/freezer thermometer regularly to make sure it's working properly.

Cool down first: Don’t put hot food in the freezer. If it's freshly cooked, allow to cool completely. Warm things in your freezer can defrost other things in there.

Seal food tightly: Plastic freezer bags help protect food from freezer burn and are easy to use. Try to remove as much air as you can before sealing as this also saves space.

Box it up: If you’re using food storage containers, make sure you’ve left enough space in the container for liquid to expand as it freezes.

Label life: Jot down the contents and the date the food was frozen on the bag. It makes it so much easier when it comes to defrosting.

Go nuts with veggies

How to freeze carrots

Raw carrots go strangely spongy when frozen and defrosted – the water in their cells expands, which bursts the cells. Either chop the carrots finely and freeze them raw – once you’ve fried them you won’t notice the texture – or chop, cut or baton them, cook until al dente, then freeze in batches.

How to freeze broccoli

Cut the broccoli into florets and cook until al dente, spread the cold florets on a tray and freeze. Once hard, tip them into a freezer bag.

How to freeze potatoes

Raw potatoes don’t freeze well for the same reason as carrots. Chop, slice, chip or chunk them, cook until al dente and freeze in batches, or mash them and freeze in portions. Freeze the pieces flat on a tray and tip into a freezer bag when hard to stop them clumping together.

How to freeze asparagus

Prep your asparagus by washing it thoroughly and trimming off any woody stems. Then blanch in boiling water for 2-4 minutes. Transfer the asparagus using a slotted spoon into a bowl of icy water. Once drained and patted dry, lay on a tray and freeze before transferring to a freezer bag.