Essential Foods You Should Always Have in the Freezer

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Herbs in Oil

How many times have you bought a bunch of fresh herbs, only to get through half of 'em before having to throw the wilted leftovers away? Freezing herbs in olive oil is a great way to preserve them, in addition to providing you with readily available aromatics to cook with in stews, soups, roasts and many other dishes. Given that most recipes require a bit of oil to cook with, it's not an issue that the herbs are frozen with it.

For an easy way to freeze herbs in olive oil, use your ice cube tray! This is the perfect way to store recipe-sized portions, so you can use them at a moment's notice. They'll melt directly in your skillet or saucepan, so there's no need to thaw before using. You also try freezing herbs with stock in the same manner. Keep in mind, however, that it's more practical to freeze sturdier, harder herbs, like rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage. Softer varieties like mint, basil, cilantro and parsley are better used raw.

Keeping your freezer stocked with these essential foods means you can save money, cut down on time in the kitchen and always have base ingredients for an infinite amount of recipes!

Hungry for more? Here are the do's and don'ts of frozen foods.