My Freezer Staples

I’m a self-proclaimed freeze-a-holic!  I wish I had more freezers, it’s the only thing holding me back from freezing more things!  I have a 25 cubic foot chest freezer along with the dinky freezer attached to my fridge.  They are both usually pretty well filled up!  Here’s what things I currently have in my freezers! 🙂

• IChicken Breasts (Boneless Skinless)
• Chicken Breasts (Bone In)
• Chicken Thighs (Bone In)
• Chicken Thighs (Boneless – for shredding because it’s easier!)
• Whole Chickens (2)
• Ground Beef
• Beef Roasts
• Homemade Shredded Chicken (cooked) 1
• Homemade Taco Mat (cooked) 2
• Chopped Deli Sliced Ham 3
• Pepperoni
• Hot Dogs

• I prefer buying fresh chicken breasts & freezing myself as opposed to the bags of frozen because they are thicker and taste better.
• I freeze the meats I purchase in “meal size” bags… in other words, whatever my family will consume in one meal at that time.
• I stock up on these meats when they are on sale.  Sometimes I might have 5 packages of chicken breasts on hand, sometimes none.

1. Shredded Chicken – ready to toss in enchiladas, on salads, in soups or white chicken chili or other casseroles.
2. Taco Meat – ready for tacos, enchiladas, taco salads, casseroles, etc.
3. Chopped Deli Ham – chop & freeze on cookie sheets, separate, toss in a bag for use in omelets, quiches, casseroles, soups, etc.

• Peas (frozen 5# bag from Costco)
• Green Beans (frozen 5# bag from Costco)
• Stir Fry (from Costco – because it’s yummy!)
• Chopped Bell Peppers 1
• Chopped Carrots 2
• Celery Hearts 3
• Chopped Green Chilies 4
• Spinach 5
• Peeled Garlic Cloves (Costco!)

1. Peppers – Chop peppers from fresh, freeze on a cookie sheet, separate & store in freezer bags.  Use the peppers (I keep a bag of mixed colors on hand) in omelets, quiches, fresh vinagrette salads, enchiladas, etc.
2. Carrots – Chop carrots from fresh (or chop & blanche), freeze on a cookie sheet, separate & store in freezer bags.  Use in soups, smoothies, stir frys, etc.
3. Celery Hearts is that clump of tender celery & leaves in the center of the bunch of celery.  Wash, chop & freeze fresh in a small baggie.  Use in soups!  Yumm!
4. Green Chilies – How often do you actually use the entire can of chopped green chilies?  Yeah… So freeze the excess in a baggie or ice cube tray for later.
5. Spinach – Wash & freeze fresh spinach on cookie sheet, break apart, put in baggie & use in soups, smoothies, muffins, breads, omelets, quiches, casseroles, etc.

• Blueberries (frozen Costco)
• Strawberries (frozen Costco)
• Orange Juice 1
• Bananas 2

1. Orange Juice – or whole oranges pureed to pulp… frozen in ice cubes for easy smoothies
2. Bananas – chopped & individually frozen if I’m not going to use them before they go bad for use in smoothies, banana breads, muffins, baby food, etc.

• Bread loaves (yes these can be frozen, thaw on the counter)
• Tortillas (flour)
• Yeast (yes, I keep it in the freezer)

• Milk (cardboard cartons freeze best)
• Butter (yes, it freezes well)
• Cheese (shredded only – I get the 5# bag at Costco)

• Butternut Squash Soup
• Chicken Soup 1
• Split Pea Soup 2
• Minestrone Soup 3
• Mashed Potates
• Pancakes
• French Toast
• Refried Beans (see my bulk recipe here)
• Golden Oats 4 (see my recipe here)
• Cookie Dough 5
• Meatloaf 6 (see my recipe for a bulk preparation here)
• Taco Meat
• Shredded Mexican Chicken
• Chicken Pot Pie (see my recipe for a bulk preparation here)

1. Chicken Soup made without noodles – put these in later or they will be overcooked.
2. Split Pea Soup – Pureed soup works best here… the texture has always been funny when I don’t puree.  Add some of the chopped ham from the meat section & the carrots from the veggi section when reheating.
3. Minestrone Soup – without the noodles.
4. Golden Oats – freeze on cookie sheet, separate, store in a ziplock.  To use, place however much you want in a pan, add a touch of oil & water & reheat.  Or microwave.
5. Cookie Dough – Prepare a large batch of your favorite cookie dough.  Press into a log inside a sheet of saran wrap.  Unwrap & roll in the wrap again (so there is no wrap stuck inside the log of dough).  Next time you want a cookie, chop of a round and bake!  No need to have a dozen cookies lying around anymore!
6. Meatloaf – Use as a meatloaf (thaw before cooking), or shape the meatloaf into balls for a meatball & spaghetti dinner or teriyaki meatballs.

• Popsicles (made from leftover smoothie when we don’t eat all of it)
• Cookie Dough

For my list of Pantry Staples click here.

What do you always keep in your freezer that isn’t on my list?