FRUIT YOU CAN FREEZE!
Bananas– Bananas will darken in colour and be mushy, but
they’re perfect for baking and smoothies. For use in smoothies, peel and
cut ripe bananas into quarters, flash freeze on a tray, then store in freezer
bags. For baking, you can pre-mash and pre-measure if you feel so
inclined. Bananas can be frozen in their peels, but extracting
the banana after it is partially thawed increases the “eeww” factor. It’s
worth the small effort to take off the peels.
Grapes– Wash before freezing. Frozen grapes make a fun
summer treat for kids and adults alike. They’re like a stick-less lolly pop. You’ll want to eat them frozen, as they will get mushy as they
thaw. You could also add them into smoothies. When grapes go on
sale, buy more than you can eat and stick them in the freezer (after washing
them, of course).
Melon– I cube and freeze watermelon and cantaloupe from the
garden. Flash freeze it on a tray for a few hours, then store it in
freezer bags, and it’s easy to access the portion that you want. Frozen
melon is great to add to smoothies.
Citrus– Cut up and freeze lemons, limes and grapefruit to
use in smoothies. For lemons and limes, you can even leave the peel
on. If you have access to a citrus tree, you probably know that you can
juice your oranges and lemons and freeze the juice. Lemon juice freezes
nicely in ice cube trays.
Pumpkin Purée– We make our own pumpkin purée to use in place of
canned pumpkin in pies, muffins, cakes, and soups. I freeze it in
measured quantities in these
storage containers, then once it’s frozen, I wrap it in plastic wrap and
store it in freezer bags.
Berries– I hope this one isn't new to anyone. Washing
or hull the berries before freezing. Frozen berries are great for pies,
smoothies, sauces, jams, and more. When they thaw, they can be mushy
(depending on the type). My kids love to stir berries or frozen
fruit into bowls of oatmeal to help cool it down.
