One of my favorite ways of saving food and shortening prep time is to freeze portions of celery and onions. It’s a fantastic way to take advantage of sales or preserve fresh produce when it’s in season. It also prevents food waste. I’m sure most of you have experienced the disappointment of pulling droopy celery from your fridge. 😬
Chopping it manually is just fine if you don’t have a food processor or slicer. I broke up with my mandolin years ago because I would like to keep all my fingers. This hand crank device has been one of the most useful additions to my kitchen because of how quickly and safely I can process larger quantities of food.
For storing, I love using silicone baggies but any air tight container or ziplock bag will work great. Make sure you squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. If you want to get even more ambitious you can make a blend of several ingredients and freeze them together so they are ready to use in scrambled eggs, stir fries, soups, stews and beans. A great mix to have on hand is chopped peppers, onions and celery. I’ve also frozen chopped mushrooms, onions and zucchini together which works well in pastas.
Let me know your preferred shortcuts for prepping meals and feel free to drop any questions in the comments.
I’ll be back soon with more cooking, storing and prepping food tips!