Cooking Tips to Prep Ahead

Carrots – Peel and slice or dice; freeze flat in bags. Great for soups or roasts.

Celery – Wash, chop, and freeze in bags. Add directly to recipes.

Onions – Chop in bulk using a food processor and freeze in ½ cup portions.

Caramelize onions in butter and place in freezer bag flat on a cookie sheet to freeze after they cool.

Fresh Spinach – Rinse, dry, and freeze in handfuls for smoothies or sautés.

Bell Peppers – Dice and freeze for omelets, stir-fries, and casseroles.

Zucchini or Summer Squash – Grate and freeze flat for muffins or soups.

Block Cheese – Grate and store in glass jars. Avoid anti-caking agents in pre-shredded cheese.

Cream – Pour into freezer-safe bags (mark portions). Defrost overnight in fridge.

Romaine Lettuce – Wash, dry in spinner, chop, and jar. Stays crisp 2–3 weeks.

Homemade Salad Dressings – Mix oil/vinegar or creamy base dressings, store in jars. Freeze extras in small bags for thaw-and-use convenience.

Buy Beef in Bulk – Share a quarter, half, or whole cow with others. Get cuts you actually want, skip mystery meat.

Avoid Wrapped Meats at the Store – Pre-cut, pre-packaged meats often have added solutions and bacteria risk. If fresh isn't available, buy vacuum-sealed frozen cuts.

Cook Once, Eat Twice – Make a batch of ground beef, shredded chicken, or meatballs, freeze in meal-size portions.

Cooked Rice or Quinoa – Freeze in 1-cup portions. Add straight to stir-fries or soups.

Homemade Broth or Soup Bases – Freeze in large silicone muffin molds. The broth pops right out after freezing and stores well in a gallon freezer bag.

Herbs in Oil – Chop herbs like basil, parsley, or rosemary and freeze with olive oil in silicone ice cube trays. Label them—they all look alike.

Mashed Potatoes – Freeze leftover mashed potatoes in scoops for fast sides.

Tomato Paste – Freeze in small silicone molds, then store in a freezer bag for easy access later.

Label + Date Everything – Use freezer-safe labels, masking tape, or just write on the freezer bag with a Sharpie.

Keep a Freezer Inventory List – Magnet board, dry-erase, or digital note—know what's in there without digging.