People are stockpiling ridiculously at the moment, with high streets and supermarkets up and down the country seeing empty shelves as some go overboard.
It’s frustrating for some of us, but worth remembering that shops are continuing to re-stock, so as long as you or someone on your behalf can go outside you’ll still be able to get what you need as the days go on.
You can also utilise your trusty freezer to make the most out of the things you do already have.
Penny-pinching gurus from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have advised Brits on eight of the lesser-known food items that can be safely stored in a freezer, to help households save money and cut down on food wastage.
Eggs
You can make all sorts of things from eggs, from Yorkshire puddings and pancakes to a quick breakfast. But did you know they can be frozen?
The shell of eggs can’t be popped into the freezer, but everything else can, and it’s relatively easy.
Crack the eggs into a muffin tray, then place these into the freezer. Once fully frozen they can be transferred into a plastic container, creating even more space.
Just make sure not to defrost and refreeze.
Cheese
Who doesn’t love a cheese toastie or a trusty batch-cooked lasagne?
You can freeze cheese in a block if you wish, or grate it and pop it in a zip-lock bag to take some as and when you need.
Anything from mozzarella to parmesan can cope with being put in the freezer, but be warned, cottage cheese may react badly.
Milk
Frozen milk should be thawed before it is used and be sure to give it a big shake before you pour it to ensure all the solids and liquids have been fully mixed.
Milk will also expand when it’s frozen, so don’t put it in a tight container.
One top tip for those who only use a little bit of milk for hot drinks is to put milk into ice cube trays. Then, you can take a portion and stick it into your tea without needing to defrost the whole bottle.
Bread
Students will know that bread is ideal to freeze, particularly if you’re a single person who doesn’t want to waste a full loaf for the odd slice of toast.
Make sure you freeze it before it goes stale, as it’ll still be stale when it thaws out. You can do this as a loaf or in single slices in zip-lock bags.
Chocolate
Chocolate doesn’t contain much water which means that it won’t change as much as other items when frozen and defrosted.
Put the chocolate in the fridge for a few hours before placing it into the freezer as this will help bring the temperature down slowly, reducing the risk of the flavour or appearance changing.
If you don’t do this, you may find the chocolate looks a little cloudy. However, it’s still more than safe to eat.
Rice and pasta
Freezing rice and pasta doesn’t just help out if you always make too much – it also can save you masses of time when it comes to dinner.
Place it onto a flat baking tray and into the freezer. Once fully frozen you can then transfer them into a different container.
Simply pour hot water over the rice or pasta to defrost and recook.
Yoghurt
The best thing about freezing yoghurt is that you don’t even need to defrost to eat. Instead, you’ve got ready-made frozen yoghurt without leaving the house.
You can use yoghurt tubes or pop yoghurt into ice lolly moulds for a cooling treat.
It is worth being aware, though, some yoghurts can be affected by the freezing process, so it’s important to try freezing a small amount before to ensure the taste isn’t affected dramatically.
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