Freezing & Storing Food

Got a frozen bird? We got you.

Freeze it now to enjoy later.

In life, we are occasionally presented with some tough choices. Choices that have a clear right and a clear wrong — but those options can start to get a little fuzzy if you look at them for too long. Yes, under certain circumstances, with a certain amount of stress and a certain amount of not-very-logical thinking, that wrong choice can start to look very (very) right. For instance, your turkey is frozen solid.

Three words: Thaw. The. Turkey.

Just because the food inside is frozen, that does not mean the freezer is set correctly.

Whether you're making your pies ahead for Thanksgiving or you want to preserve the leftovers, we have answer for you.

Making your Thanksgiving pies ahead of time can be a lifesaver, but there's a right and wrong way to do it.

Good gravy, especially one made with drippings from a Thanksgiving turkey, is magical. If you’re like me and love gravy but don’t make it that often, leftover gravy is a bit like liquid gold — I don’t want to waste a single drop. But, you may be wondering, can you freeze gravy? And how long can you store it in the fridge? Here are the best ways to store the gravy depending on when you plan to enjoy it, plus some suggestions for using it up!

Yes, you can freeze mashed potatoes. Here's how.

When you slide your fork into a silky homemade cheesecake and savor its rich creaminess, you know it was worth all the time and effort. But, after also cooking the dinner that came before it and tidying the house afterwards, what do you do with all of the leftover cheesecake that follows? Freeze it!Yes, cheesecake can also be frozen, which means you can impress your guests but in a low-stress way.

Because there's nothing worse than buying fresh strawberries only for them to go to waste.

Enjoy them all year long with our step-by-step guide.

Ours were still fresh after three weeks!

These are the two easiest ways to make your mint last.

This is the best way to keep them fresh and prevent them from sticking together.

It's way better than lemon water!

When you finally get tired of eating fresh summer corn, freeze it.

The methods are super simple!

So, you’ve whipped up a batch of homemade pizza dough, and you’ve made a couple of spectacularly good homemade pizzas. But your household is small, and you don’t want to eat pizza for days. What can you do with all that leftover dough? Freeze it, of course! It’s simple as 1-2-3, and then you can have pizza on the spur of the moment next week. Here’s how to freeze pizza dough.

The more hectic life gets with work, friends, and family, the more grateful I am that freezers were invented. A well-stocked freezer full of fruits, vegetables, and homemade meals has enabled me to eat better and not spend money on takeout. The downside of a lot of frozen foods, however, is that they usually need to be thawed in order to cook or reheat well. But did you know there are still plenty of foods out there that you can cook straight from the freezer, no thawing necessary?

One of the very first cooking tricks I ever learned was just how much a slice or two of bacon can boost the flavor of an otherwise simple soup or braise. I was hooked from that first subtly smoky, bacon-enhanced bite. You can bet I had bacon stocked in my freezer ever after. Freezing the slices individually between layers of wax paper takes a few minutes of work at the outset, but allows you to use just a slice or two when you need them. Here’s how to freeze bacon.

Don't serve your guests brown guacamole! This is all the info you need to make sure of it.

Our favorite tool for the job might surprise you!

Lemons are one of our most versatile citrus fruits, but can you freeze them for long-term storage?

We should've thought of this sooner!

Don't let any extra cabbage go to waste! Here's how to properly store it in the freezer.

Yes, frozen salmon can taste nearly as good as fresh — you just have to defrost it the right way.

The best method yielded beautiful, fluffy results!

Flexibility in use landed this method in the top spot.

No more smushed cake and smeared frosting!

It's possible to freeze carbs and enjoy them later in a not-rock-hard state.

I recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Baker and Doughpuncher David Norman. David is a true artisan when it comes to baking breads, working each batch of dough carefully to achieve the consistency and quality he desires. I asked him about common misconceptions the public may have when it comes to baking and storing bread, and it turns out we may have been doing a few things wrong.

I just received two plump eggplants in my CSA box, and as I was sticking them in the refrigerator, I suddenly questioned whether this was the right move. Remember that tip for how to store cucumbers? Turns out eggplant is similar. Until now, my go-to storage spot for eggplant has always been in the refrigerator — either the crisper drawer or bottom shelf, depending on the size.

There are a couple of options depending on how many hours you've got until dinner.

Faith shared her list of essential grocery items to get your year started on the right foot, and ginger root is at the top of my list. It’s bright and fresh with just the right amount of zing. I’ve been using it in everything from tea and smoothies to warm curries and stir-fries. Just as important as having some great recipes to get your fill of fresh ginger is knowing how to store it properly.

​Keep a few containers of homemade soup in the freezer and suddenly the long winter ahead doesn't seem so bad after all. Here's how to make sure you get the best results.

Here's what you need to know as we head into cookie season.

Whether it’s the ongoing debate that a dislike of cilantro is determined by genetics or the recent stir caused by cilantro imported from Mexico, cilantro certainly seems to be a hot topic right now. While some crave its fresh, spicy flavor, others find it utterly unappealing. For me, I can’t get enough of it. Not only can it be tricky to grow, but it also proves challenging to preserve.

A full freezer is only useful if it’s stocked with foods that can help you put dinner on the table quickly on a busy weeknight — unfortunately, ice cream doesn’t fit the bill. Over the years, I’ve learned through trial and error what to always keep in my freezer so that I can, with the help of a few pantry and fridge staples, throw a variety of dishes together quickly with little effort. Here’s a list of my top 10!

Q: I want to make a birthday cake for a friend. Problem is, her birthday is not for two weeks, but I’m seeing her tomorrow.Is there a way to freeze a fully-decorated birthday cake so that it will thaw into something beautiful? Are there certain cake or icing recipes that work best (my friend loves carrot cake).Sent by CarolynEditor: Carolyn, the short answer is yes! Many cakes freeze very well even after being decorated.

My freezer is the repository for all un-eaten things great and small. That last pork chop no one wanted? In the freezer! A batch of pierogi for fall meals? In the freezer! Some strawberries about to go bad? Yup, in the freezer! With so much going in there, it might be weeks or (more likely) months before I get around to using many of these things. Which raises some good questions: How long do freezer foods keep? Do they have an expiration date? There’s a short and a long answer here.

There are a lot of reasons to always have carrots on hand — they’re one of the ingredients for mirepoix or homemade stock, make great snacks or crudité, and are inexpensive to buy (even if you choose organic). It’s more economical to buy them in packs or bunches, but how can you keep carrots fresh and crisp if you don’t plan on using them up in a few days? Here’s our easy way. First of all, trim any green tops off the carrots.

Here's how to make it last as long as possible before and after you open it.

Avoid these mistakes and you'll have holiday cookies to reach for all season long.

It'll save you time, money, and your sanity.

They can keep for weeks or even months when properly stored.

Make them last with our handy storage tips.

This is the best way to make sure they're prepped and ready for all of your future side dishes.

Keep your kale from wilting by storing it properly in the fridge — or even freezing it up to a year.

Your BLT will thank you.

Learn how to properly store grapes for maximum freshness.

The only thing you need is already in your refrigerator!

You probably know nori best as the paper-like dark green wrapping that keeps pieces of sushi neatly — and deliciously! — contained. Crisp sheets of this mild grassy-tasting seaweed last forever in the pantry and can come in handy when you just need “a little something extra” to perk up a weeknight meal. Nori is made by shredding edible seaweed and then pressing it into thin sheets — much like the process for making paper.

A true win-win!

Get ahead in the kitchen.

Yes, you can — and should — freeze carrots. Here's why and how.

If you're a 30-minute-or-less Tuesday night cook, chances are you've got a bunch of chicken breasts in the freezer right now. Could you be storing them better?

It’s unfair. Fresh, hot, from-scratch cinnamon buns are a beloved treat, especially for tasty Christmas breakfast. Who doesn’t want to wake up to the smell of cinnamon and caramelizing sugar, or stumble down to the kitchen to find fresh-from-the-oven, slathered-in-icing cinnamon buns, just waiting for you to dive in?

The best way to store basil may not be the prettiest way, but it can keep a bunch fresh and green for up to a week or two. Give this a try! To keep basil fresh, trim the stems and place them in a glass or jar of water, just like cut flowers. Loosely cover it with a plastic bag and leave it on the counter. Although certain herbs, such as parsley and cilantro or coriander, can be stored this way in the fridge, basil does better at room temperature. Refrigeration can turn the leaves black.

Cut down on food waste and always have Brussels on hand for tasty recipes.