As the festive season bring us feasts with whanau, many of us are left with an overwhelming amount of leftovers. Instead of letting these delicious treats go to waste, your freezer can be your best friend, acting like a "pause button" to save food for later.
While you may already know that ham and turkey freeze well, there are several other festive foods you might be surprised to learn can also be safely frozen. Let’s explore five unexpected foods that freeze well, helping you save both money and kai this festive season with Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand’s "chill out" initiative.
BREAD ROLLS
Fresh bread and rolls are a staple at most festive feasts, but they can quickly go stale if left out. Instead of letting them dry out, pop them in the freezer. Even if they’ve already gone slightly stale, freezing them will preserve them for later use. You can thaw and use frozen bread rolls to make garlic bread, stuffing or even bread-and-butter pudding. Just make sure to wrap them well or place them in airtight containers before freezing. Alternatively, you could try get creative with chef Matteo Lauricella’s breadcrumb gnocchi recipe, featured in KiwiHarvest’s HackOff.
GRAVY
Made a delicious batch of gravy to accompany your Christmas dinner? Don’t let the leftovers go to waste. Gravy freezes exceptionally well, especially if you portion it into smaller servings before freezing. Use ice cube trays to freeze small amounts of gravy, making it easy to defrost just what you need next time you serve a roast or need a quick sauce.
STUFFING
Stuffing is often the unsung hero of a festive meal, and luckily, it freezes well too. Whether it’s turkey stuffing or a delicious veggie-packed version, you can portion any leftovers into airtight containers and store them in the freezer. When reheating, simply add a splash of broth to refresh the texture, and it will taste as good as new.
CHEESE
Surprisingly, many cheeses freeze well, making them perfect candidates for saving leftovers from your grazing platter. Hard cheeses such as cheddar or parmesan, and semi-hard cheeses such as gouda, can be grated or sliced before freezing. While they may lose a bit of texture once thawed, they work perfectly in cooking — ideal for adding to pasta, sauces or casseroles. Just be sure to wrap the cheese tightly to prevent freezer burn.
MINCE PIES
Christmas mince pies are a holiday favourite, but if you’ve made or bought too many, don’t worry — freezing them is an option. While they might be a bit crumbly once thawed, they can still be enjoyed as a delicious dessert or be crumbled over ice cream or yoghurt.
This festive season don’t let your delicious leftovers go to waste — your freezer can help you keep the fun going. With a little planning and smart storage, you can enjoy fresh food for festive fun well into the new year.
Breadcrumb gnocchi
Ingredients
1 cup or 200g breadcrumbs
3/4 cups or 200g flour
1 1/4 cups or 300g milk
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Method
Make a well with the flour and breadcrumbs, add the boiling milk, a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil and knead everything together.
Cover with a towel and let it rest for 30 minutes. Roll into ropes about 1cm in diameter.
Cut the ropes into small pieces.
Cook in simmering water for 7-8 minutes.
Serve with your favourite sauce.
For more
- To help you make the most of your fridge and freezer, download Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand’s free fridge and freezer guides packed with tips on optimal storage. You can also find recipes and more at www.lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz or @lovefoodhatewastenz on Facebook and Instagram.
