Opal’s Homestead Hacks: Easy-in-bulk
Today’s hack is a home economics trifecta: It extends food life, reduces waste, and saves time. All you need are used jars and Ziploc bags (remember, you can wash and reuse those too).
You don’t need a savings club membership to mimic bulk buying. With enough room in the freezer and a few extra minutes up front, you can make fewer trips to the store and still have fresh foods.
“I save empty jars to store things in,” Opal said. Jam, mayonnaise, or pickle jars work well. Buying fresh food in larger amounts is cheaper, and when frozen can avoid wasted food and packaging.
“And they often last longer in jars than they do in the plastic bags they come in,” she said.
When you get home with fresh produce, just divide, chop or slice as appropriate and freeze in smaller batches or portions you’ll need for future meals. Defrost a day ahead in the fridge, or just take out the frozen portions needed to toss in a pan or pot for dinner.
“[Bunches of] garlic are such a great price but huge, so I run it through my food processor then put it into quart freezer bags so I can break chunks off as I need them.”
She does the same with peppers, but roasts them first.
“You can sauté any food and freeze in small batches, ready to pull out and cook with,” she said.
Mushrooms can be frozen sautéed or simply fresh from the store. In the refrigerator they go bad rather quickly, so it’s handy to buy more than first needed, then freeze. When I need just a couple for a dish, they slice easily frozen, and cook quickly.
“Fresh herbs are so much better than dried,” Opal advised. “You can freeze them too.”
Opal freezes strawberries on a silicone mat and Ziploc bag. “I use them in smoothies, jam, whatever.”
The batch-and-freeze method works well with meats, too.
“Cook up a few pounds of sausage or bacon … Then put it into a container in the freezer. You have ready-to-use sausage without having to take the time to cook it. Sprinkle on pizza, in recipes, or in your breakfast scramble.”
And it’s so much nicer to skip frying the bacon on lazy Saturday mornings.
