By Shakera Williams, M.P.H., Assistant FCS Nutrition Extension Agent – General & SNAP- ED Webster/Claiborne Parish
Here is a list of freezer staple items you should always keep stocked.
- Frozen vegetables: Frozen vegetables top the list for healthy freezer foods. Keep a couple bags on hand. When making a meal, don’t forget a side of vegetables! Take a bag of frozen vegetables out of the freezer and roast, steam, bake, pan-fry, or grill.
- Frozen fruits: Frozen fruits obviously last longer than fresh, and they are great for making smoothies!
- Frozen chopped onion and bell pepper: At a low-cost per bag, these staples are a major time saver compared to manually cutting the vegetables. If you find a special on onions and bell peppers, you might consider buying them fresh and chopping and freezing for future uses.
- Breads: Once you’ve used all of the loaf you can in a week, pop the leftovers in the freezer. This saves money and time shopping for bread every week!
- Chicken breasts: Keep some chicken breasts in the freezer for busy weeknights. For added convenience, keep both uncooked and cooked in the freezer.
- Ground turkey: Keep handy for a quick turkey taco night, turkey meatballs, or turkey burgers.
- Fish: There are many healthy options to choose from, including red snapper, cod, and salmon, to name a few. Fish is a quick and easy protein to cook. It’s heart healthy, too!
- Nuts: Nuts keep longer in the freezer and are a protein-rich snack with heart-healthy fats.
- Cooked grains: Cooked rice and pasta keep well in the freezer. Cook batches ahead of time and store in the freezer. When your night is busy, simply thaw the cooked grains and save an extra step in your food prep!
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