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Tired of food going bad in the pantry? Ready to go green for the environment while keeping a little green in your wallet? One of the best ways to avoid food waste is knowing how to freeze produce before it goes bad so you can enjoy it later.
A wide variety of fruits are freezer-friendly and so are many of your favorite veggies. Here are some of the most common and how to safely freeze them after you’ve rinsed off dirt and debris:
- Carrots – Peel, cut into smaller slices and blanch for a couple minutes. Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Green beans – Trim the ends and blanch for a few minutes. Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Corn – Remove the husks. Cut corn off the cob. Blanch for 2-3 minutes before freezing on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag.
- Peas – Remove peas from the pod and blanch quickly, just 1-2 minutes. Freeze on a baking sheet then transfer to a permanent container.
- Bell peppers – Remove stems and seeds. Cut into pieces. Blanch for a few minutes, freeze on a baking sheet and transfer to a freezer-safe container.
- Broccoli or cauliflower – Trim leaves and remove stems. Cut into smaller pieces, blanch for 3 minutes, freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet and transfer to a freezer-safe container.
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