Okay, for those of you who already know the magic of flash freezing, this will be a review LOL. For those of you who are saying “Flash who?” hehe, this is going to be MONUMENTAL in saving you money on fresh produce and meat. This will also allow you to save a LOT of time. Flash freezing is what you call freezing a thin layer of food quickly for packaging and using later. I have “flash” frozen strawberries, blackberries, raw chicken, grilled chicken, meatballs, tomato sauce, etc. The possibilities are ENDLESS. Flash freezing is especially handy for those of you who have no idea how to can (like me). Here are the simple steps:
1. Spread the produce or meat in a thin layer on a non-stick cookie sheet.
2. Place in the freezer for 1 hour.
3. Remove from the freezer and place in either a quart or gallon size freezer bag.
VOILA! You have frozen food that is measurable. This means you can remove berries, chicken strips, onions, or anything else you “flash” freeze in a measurable amount. It is not all stuck together and impossible to measure. I have used this method to freeze pre-cooked ground beef and chicken strips. This is perfect for a quick supper! You can pre-cook all of your meat at the beginning of the month and all you have to do is take it out of the freezer and measure out the desired amount. There is no need to defrost the entire bag! You can also freeze sauces and juices in ice trays for easy measuring later on. I have been known to freeze spaghetti sauce and strawberry sauce in ice trays and place them in a gallon freezer bag. This makes a perfect measuring device for later retrieval!
Very clever….and will be very useful for me…Thanks so much! =)