Placeholder Content Image

If these things are in your freezer, toss them out

<p>Out of space in your freezer? Make room by ditching these items that are no longer any good to you.</p> <p><strong>Smelly ice cubes</strong></p> <p>There’s nothing refreshing about taking a big gulp of ice water and tasting the garlic you put in the freezer last week. Once ice cubes have taken on the scents around them, they’ll never get rid of them. Toss those and start fresh. </p> <p>If this is a problem you have found yourself facing, it might be time to invest in ice cube trays with lids – they can help preserve the ice cubes’ freshness and keep them odour-free.</p> <p><strong>Forgotten freezer meals</strong></p> <p>Look at you with your freezer full of healthy freezer meals! It’s great to plan ahead but don’t get overambitious with your meal prep. </p> <p>Prepared freezer meals should be eaten within three months. Try a first-in, first-out approach, and keep track of your freezer’s contents using labels.</p> <p><strong>Stale coffee beans</strong></p> <p>Storing ground coffee in the freezer can preserve freshness but be mindful of how long those beans have been sitting in there. </p> <p>Coffee beans absorb moisture, as well as the various tastes and smells around them, so make sure to use them within three months.</p> <p><strong>Freezer-burned veggies</strong></p> <p>How long has that bag of frozen mixed veggies been sitting in the back of your freezer? If it survived your last move, it’s time to toss it. </p> <p>Frozen veggies can be kept in the freezer for about three months – or shorter, if freezer burn has crept in.</p> <p><strong>Thawed meat</strong></p> <p>We love keeping a supply of chicken freezer meals on hand for busy weeknights. Once meat like chicken begins to thaw, though, it starts to grow bacteria. </p> <p>If your freezer isn’t functioning at the optimal freezer temperature, the meat inside can start to thaw without anyone the wiser, which can be unsafe.</p> <p><strong>Freezer-burned meat</strong></p> <p>Most commonly, though, it’s freezer burn you should fear. Given enough time, it will render your meat dry and tasteless. </p> <p>If you notice small ice crystals in the packaging, or can’t remember how long the meat has even been in the freezer, it’s time for it to go. Tightly sealing your meat before freezing it is a good way to ward off freezer burn.</p> <p><strong>Old deli meat</strong></p> <p>Deli meat is one of those items that is very convenient to have on hand, but which spoils quickly. The good news is that you can definitely freeze deli meat. Even with proper preparation, however, it can only last up to two months in the freezer. </p> <p>After that, even if it remains safe to eat, it won’t taste very good. Just as with other meats, deli meat should be tightly sealed and wrapped before it’s frozen.</p> <p><strong>Pastries with creamy filling</strong></p> <p>Once you’ve gone to the trouble of making a heavenly cheese danish from scratch, the last thing you want to do is throw away the leftovers. </p> <p>But pastries and other treats with cheese or creamy filling don’t keep well in the freezer; in fact, many of the foods that cannot be frozen are dairy products. Toss those cheese danishes after a month (or just eat them to avoid this problem altogether).</p> <p><strong>Unrecognisable leftovers</strong></p> <p>We love finding creative ways to repurpose leftovers; they just won’t last in the freezer forever. Most leftover dishes will keep for two to six months in the freezer. </p> <p>If they’ve been sitting for a while and you can’t remember what the food was in the first place, pitch it and start over.</p> <p><strong>Old ice cream</strong></p> <p>Most of us don’t have the problem of ice cream lasting too long in our homes but if you happen to have more self-control, you may find yourself in this predicament. If your tub of ice cream is older than three to four months, it’s time for it to go. </p> <p>So grab a bowl and a spoon before time is up! If you have a new large tub, try dividing it up and storing it in individual serving containers to help preserve that fresh flavour.</p> <p><strong>Freezer-burned bread</strong></p> <p>If you have more fresh bread than you know what to do with, and don’t want it to go stale before you have a chance to enjoy it, then popping it in the freezer is a great idea. But bread only lasts in the freezer for about six months. After that, freezer burn will likely have ravaged its good taste and texture. </p> <p>If you find a loaf in the back of the freezer that’s been there for who knows how long, then it needs to go. To keep it fresh as long as possible, make sure to wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, and then in a layer of foil or freezer paper. Pro tip: slice your bread before freezing, so you only ever have to remove what you need.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/if-these-things-are-in-your-freezer-toss-them-out?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Placeholder Content Image

Man's horrific find in his mother's freezer

<p>Police are investigating after a man discovered a baby's body in his late mother’s freezer.</p> <p>Adam Smith was looking after his mother in her St Louis apartment in the UK until she passed away from lung cancer on July 21, <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/30/us/missouri-infant-freezer/index.html" target="_blank"><em>CNN</em></a> reported.</p> <p>The 37-year-old man was cleaning out the home when he came across a cardboard box in the freezer.</p> <p>Smith said his mother, who had brought the box with her throughout multiple house moves, warned him not to open it. </p> <p>“It has been in my freezer for 37 years. I was always told it was a wedding cake top,” Smith told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/st-louis-man-finds-mummified-baby-his-deceased-mother-s-n1036026" target="_blank"><em>KSDK</em></a>.</p> <p>When he opened the box, he found a frozen infant corpse wrapped in a pink blanket. </p> <p>“When I reached down and touched it, I could feel a foot,” said Smith.</p> <p>“I could see the baby’s head with hair … It still had skin, hair and everything – it was mummified.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">EXCLUSIVE: A disturbing discovery in south St. Louis. Police are investigating the death of a baby. But tonight, we get more details from a man who found the baby wrapped in a pink blanket in his mom's freezer. Catch the full story at 6 on <a href="https://twitter.com/ksdknews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ksdknews</a>. <a href="https://t.co/juSKoL9SQT">pic.twitter.com/juSKoL9SQT</a></p> — Justina Coronel (@JustinaCoronel) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinaCoronel/status/1155944913931866114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Smith told <em>CNN</em> that the baby “looked clean” and “like a newborn baby”.</p> <p>According to Smith, his mother said she had lost a child before he was born. He said a relative told him that his mother gave birth to twins, but one of them died and the other was given up for adoption.</p> <p>St Louis Metropolitan Police said they are investigating the case as a “suspicious death” pending an autopsy.</p> <p>“Who absolutely keeps their own child in a box for this long and never talks about it?” Smith said.</p> <p>"I just have so many thoughts. It's insane.”</p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

7 foods you should always have in your freezer

<p>Buying fresh produce has wonderful benefits but unfortunately, sometimes life gets busy and it is hard to find time to go grocery shopping, prep and cook dinner.</p> <p>Here are the foods that nutritionist <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/interiors/the-seven-healthy-foods-you-should-always-have-in-your-freezer/news-story/314fabbee3153f84d251b31640d955f0" target="_blank">Susie Burrell</a></strong></span> recommends you keep in your freezer to help you eat well in all situations.</p> <p><strong>1. Frozen fish</strong></p> <p>Susie recommends selecting fish like salmon or barramundi and grilling or steaming them for a quick and easy dinner. She suggests going without the heavy sauces for a healthier option.</p> <p><strong>2. Vegetables</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/2017/09/fresh-vs-frozen-fruit-and-veggies/" target="_blank">Frozen vegetables</a></strong></span> lose their nutrients when they are overcooked. To avoid this, lightly steam or stir fry your frozen vegetables. Susie recommends including individual packets of vegetables to your lunch.</p> <p><strong>3. Berries</strong></p> <p>Susie suggests you keep some berries handy in your freezer. They can be added to baking, smoothies, yoghurt and enjoyed as a snack.</p> <p><strong>4. Homemade stock</strong></p> <p>Stock can add flavour to stir fries, soups and protein based meals. Many of the stocks sold at stores have high amounts of salt so make your own, freeze leftovers and do your body good.</p> <p><strong>5. Bread</strong></p> <p>It can very handy to have good quality bread in the freezer for early morning emergencies.</p> <p><strong>6. Frozen meal</strong></p> <p>Susie recommends keeping a simple frozen meal in the freezer as they are healthier than standard take away meals. She suggests choosing meals that have fewer ingredients and have more vegetables and meat.</p> <p><strong>7. Soup</strong></p> <p>Susie suggests freezing a large-batch of veggie soup which can be used as a lunch, dinner or snack.</p> <p>What foods do you think are essential to have in your freezer? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

5 tips for getting the most out of your freezer

<p>The <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/02/five-tips-for-an-organised-freezer/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">freezer is a great tool</span></strong></a> for homeowners to store food. It means you can avoid last minute trips to the supermarket because of your frozen Bolognese, or feed hungry grandkids at a moment’s notice thanks to your frozen crumpets.</p> <p>But not everyone is aware that there are a few tricks of the trade to get the most out of your freezer.</p> <p><strong>1. Keep it at 70 per cent</strong></p> <p>A freezer runs more efficiently when it is nearly full; so don’t just leave it empty with a bag of peas inside and nothing else. The frozen lasagne that’s already in the freezer will help freeze your banana bread when you put that in. Also be sure to keep your temperature dial steady on a lower setting.</p> <p><strong>2. Use tight and small packaging</strong></p> <p>Instead of filling your freezer with plastic tubs, try using the different sizes of zip lock bags instead. You can remove the excess air before storing it, compared to say a half full plastic tub which means the food is exposed to the cold air, which can cause it to experience freezer burn.</p> <p><strong>3. Don’t work it too hard at once</strong></p> <p>The freezer is all about maintaining temperature, so it’s not a good idea to go from 10 per cent capacity to 80 per cent. Only pop a few things in to freeze at a time, otherwise the freezer has to work too hard to get the temperature down.</p> <p><strong>4. Cool food down first</strong></p> <p>Coming back to the point above, it’s important that you don’t put hot or warm food into the freezer. It needs to cool down first to avoid the temperature being affected inside the freezer. This is what causes freezer burn, and that freezer smell is not going to encourage you to eat your leftovers.</p> <p><strong>5. Cook double</strong></p> <p>A great way to maximise efficiency in the kitchen is to get into the habit of cooking double batches. This goes for anything like curries, casseroles, muffins, cakes, and pies. Then freeze half to use for another meal. It keeps your freezer full, and means less work for you on a busy night.</p> <p>Do you have any advice of your own to add? We would love to hear from you in the comments.</p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

5 tips to help you perfectly organise your freezer

<p>Freezers can be an incredible tool when it comes to saving time in the kitchen, avoiding food waste, and saving valuable dollars. But a disorganised freezer can be worse than no freezer at all. After all, if you’re not making the most of your freezer, the money it costs to run are eating into any savings it might be making for you. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some simple things you can do to make your freezer more efficient.</p> <p><strong>1. Label, label, label</strong></p> <p>If you’re not labelling the food in your freezer, you’re skipping a simple step that could save you so much time during meal prep. Instead of hunting around, trying to figure out which container has the meatloaf, a sticky label applied to the container or bag before it gets the big freeze eliminates all the fuss.</p> <p><strong>2. Portion control</strong></p> <p>There’s something so satisfying about the ability to reach in to your freezer and pull out the perfect amount of meat/sauce/rice for your next meal. Many different plastic bags can lead to a shambles on the shelves, and ends up wasting an awful lot of plastic, which clutters up landfill. So give this a try: fill a zip-lock bag with whatever you wish to freeze – sauce, mince, etc – then break it into single-serve portions inside the bag. When you need a little pasta sauce, open the bag and squeeze one of the portions out. Voila – portion control with a minimum of mess and waste.</p> <p><strong>3. Categorically organised</strong></p> <p>If you don’t organise your freezer by food type, you’re missing a handy trick. Try stacking prepped meals on one side, raw meats on the other, berries and dessert together, and bread in the middle. Odds are you’ll always know exactly where to look when you next go to the freezer. </p> <p><strong>4. Flat-out like a lizard</strong></p> <p>Instead of trying (and failing) to stack lumpy bags of food – they will fall – take care to lay things down flat to freeze them. Press the food to fill all the space of the bag so that it freezes as flat as possible. Then, you can easily stack them on top of one another, or even vertically inside a basket/container.</p> <p><strong>5. Vacuum-packed</strong></p> <p>If you find yourself constantly baffled by what’s in a frosted over container, then it might be worth investing in a vacuum sealer. Aside from locking your valuable food away in an air-tight environment, the plastic’s proximity to the contents makes it laughably easy to see exactly what’s inside. You’ll never defrost the wrong thing again.</p> <p>Do you already use any of these organisational methods in your freezer? Share your best freezer tip in the comments.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/01/new-uses-for-baking-paper/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 new uses for baking paper</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/01/amazing-kitchen-tricks/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Amazing tricks that will change your kitchen habits</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/12/20-household-items-with-cleaning-powers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>20 things around your home with surprising cleaning powers</strong></em></span></a></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

7 tips to protect your food from freezer burn

<p>There’s nothing worse than putting a package of frozen peas in the freezer, only to return to it a couple of days later and see it covered with disgusting, crystallised ice.</p> <p>This is freezer burn, a condition that occurs where water is pulled from the surface of your food, causing the rest of it to become dehydrated. This nasty crystallisation process changes the texture and ultimately the taste of the food.</p> <p>The good news is it is entirely avoidable.</p> <p><a href="http://tiphero.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tip Hero</strong></span></a> has shared seven tips to protect your food from freezer burn. Follow these tips and your freezer will never look like a failed arctic expedition.</p> <p><strong>1. Don’t pack your freezer too tightly</strong></p> <p>Over-packing is one of the main culprits behind freezer burn, as this can cause fluctuating temperatures that help cause the crystallisation process.</p> <p><strong>2. But make sure your freezer is packed tightly enough</strong></p> <p>This might seem contradictory to the last point, but you’re going to want to keep your freezer reasonably stocked (at least 75 per cent) for consistent cooling.</p> <p><strong>3. Wait for hot food to cool first</strong></p> <p>Placing hot food straight into the freezer is a big no no, as this rapid change of temperate is almost guaranteed to cause freezer burn. Wait for it to cool down first.</p> <p><strong>4. Use freezer bags</strong></p> <p>Freezer bags really are the best way to protect from freezer burn, conforming to the exact shape of the food and helping keep it neutral to sudden changes in temperature.</p> <p><strong>5. Keep the freezer cold as possible</strong></p> <p>It probably goes without saying, but the cooler your freezer the better. It’s also recommended you never leave the freezer open for extended period of time.</p> <p><strong>6. Use the right containers</strong></p> <p>Tip Hero suggests using plastic containers for soups, large casserole containers with plastic wrap, foil or wax paper for freezer meals and thick freezer bags for everything else.</p> <p><strong>7. Try aluminium foil</strong></p> <p><a href="http://tiphero.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tip Hero</strong></span></a> also suggested aluminium foil as a great way to provide airtight packaging and that little extra layer to help prevent the occurrence of freezer burn.</p> <p>What measure do you take to avoid freezer burn? Do you think you’ll try any of these tips? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/rules-for-food-expiry-dates/"><strong>Rules for food expiry dates</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/09/the-quickest-safest-way-to-defrost-food/"><strong>The quickest and safest way to defrost food</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/08/10-common-foods-that-will-never-expire/"><strong>10 common foods that will never expire</strong></a></em></span></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

The easy trick to keep avocados fresh for 6 months

<p><span>It’s undeniable – Kiwis have a total love affair with avocados. In fact, some have even taken to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/15/avocado-thieves-shortage-crime-fruit-black-market-new-zealand" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">stealing</span></strong></a> our nation’s second favourite green fruit.</span></p> <p>But, we’re happy to report, those days may be behind us! When prices are low, you can stock up on your favourite food and stick them in the freezer. Yes – as it turns out, you can freeze avocados and keep them fresh for up to six months.</p> <p>So, how do you do it? In just five easy steps:</p> <ol start="1"> <li>Wash the ripe avocado, keeping the skin on.</li> <li>Cut it in half, peel and remove the pit.</li> <li>Wrap each half in foil or plastic wrap, then place them in a labelled zip-lock bag (so you’ll know how long they’ve been in the freezer).</li> <li>If you’d rather pureed avocado mash it with a bit of lemon juice, lime juice or white vinegar, then place in the freezer in a zip-lock bag or airtight container.</li> <li>To thaw, move avocado to fridge about 12 to 24 hours before use, leave at room temperature for an hour, or put it in a bowl and run cold water over the bag or container.</li> </ol> <p>As great as this technique is for avid avocado eaters, it comes with a word of warning: while convenient, thawed avocado won’t be as firm as it is fresh. However, for those of us who love a bit of avo on toast or in guacamole, this money-saving trick is a godsend!</p> <p>How do you like to eat avocado? Share your tips with us in the comments below!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/8-foods-that-will-help-you-live-longer/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 foods that will help you live longer</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/vegetarian-beetroot-burger-with-avocado/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Vegetarian beetroot burger with avocado</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/04/ripen-avocado-in-10-minutes/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to ripen avocados in 10 minutes</strong></em></span></a></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Why you should never refrigerate your bread

<p>What do you with leftover bread? Do you wrap it in plastic and keep it in the fridge? Well, despite everything you’ve been told, if you want to keep your bread fresher for longer that’s not the way to do it.</p> <p>Food website Serious Eats broke down the science behind why, explaining that as the bread cools after being baked, its starches will regroup back to the original, crystallised state that causes bread to harden and grow stale. Putting the bread in the fridge actually accelerates the process and the bread becomes stale much faster.</p> <p>So what should we be doing with our bread?</p> <p>Freeze it! Freezing slows down the recrystallisation process of bread so wrap it in an airtight bag or container, store bread in the freezer and let it thaw completely before eating it.</p> <p>Or you can buy unsliced bread, as a bread’s shelf life is reduce once it’s cut. Cut off what you want to eat and if you’re going to be eating the bread in the next few days, place the loaf cut-side down against the table.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches/">8 natural ways to get rid of cockroaches</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/expert-summer-gardening-tips/">Expert tips for a thriving garden this summer</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/household-uses-for-vaseline/">Clever uses for Vaseline around the house</a></em></strong></span></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Tips on stocking your freezer full of easy dinners

<p>You may have thought about stockpiling healthy dinners in your freezer for those busy nights. But if you’ve been putting this idea into the “too hard” basket, today we have some tips to help you get started. It is possible to get started without too much effort.</p> <p>It’s great having some meals stashed away in the freezer. When you know you’ve got a busy day ahead, you can take a casserole out to defrost the night before and come home to just heat and eat.</p> <p>Just got home from a week away and there’s no food in the house? Just defrost some bolognese while you make some pasta and dinner is served.</p> <p><strong>Make double or triple batches</strong></p> <p>This idea is quite simple. When you make a freezer friendly meal such as bolognese, curry, casserole or meatballs – double or triple your recipe. Then you can just pop the extra portions into the freezer, either in single serve containers or enough to feed the household.</p> <p><strong>Buy meat on sale</strong></p> <p>When you your favourite meats on sale, stock up and make a plan for how to use them. You can do a big cook up and freeze a few meals for a rainy day.</p> <p><strong>Freeze handy ingredients</strong></p> <p>When you have made something like pasta sauce or chicken stock, pop any leftovers in ice cube trays and freeze. Keep the blocks in a zip lock bag so that you can just defrost the perfect amount when cooking.</p> <p><strong>Package up leftovers before you eat</strong></p> <p>Rather than leaving a big pot of food on the stovetop while you eat, get into the habit of packaging up single serves of leftovers to put in the freezer. This will stop anyone from tucking into your freezer stash food on the night you made it.</p> <p><strong>Use freezer friendly containers</strong></p> <p>Ill-fitting lids or old margarine tubs don’t work well to keep your food in good shape. Invest in some good quality freezer friendly containers to freeze cooked food. You could also consider getting some oven-safe casserole dishes that can go in the freezer too. That way if you make a casserole you can spray the dish with olive oil spray before lining with a big strip of foil. Ladle the stew inside, covering the top with more foil. Freeze overnight then remove the foil wrapped meal from the dish and pop back in the freezer. Then when you want to use it you can just thaw and re-heat.</p> <p><strong>Label everything</strong></p> <p>You don’t want to end up with icy random blocks of food that will most likely end up in the bin. Keep some address labels and marker pens handy and write down exactly what is in there. You could even add some cooking instructions in case someone else is doing the cooking.</p> <p><strong>Keep track</strong></p> <p>Rather than ending up with eight packs of Bolognese, remember to keep track of what’s in the freezer. This way you will know what needs eating and what you have plenty of. A notepad on the fridge or a small whiteboard work well. </p> <p> </p>

Home & Garden