Tech

6 surprising foods you should keep in the freezer

Rebecca Harrington

2016-02-26T14:28:36Z

Don't think of your freezer as nothing more than cold storage space: You can use it as an essential kitchen tool.

America's Test Kitchen chef and food science expert Dan Souza shared his best freezing hacks with us, and — heads up — it might be time to get more ice cube trays.

The freezer is a great place for fatty foods, he says.

"It’s dark and cold in there," Souza told Tech Insider. "So it slows down rancidity, which is a problem with really fatty things."

Rancidity is what happens when fats start to break down, giving foods an unpleasant taste or smell.

Here are six foods Souza suggests you should start freezing.

1. Leftover wine. If you happen to have any, Souza suggests freezing it in ice cube trays so you can easily use it in sauces later.

2. Leftover frying grease. "You can definitely use fryer oil a number of times," Souza says. "Make sure you strain it, put it into a sealed container, and throw it in the freezer."

3. Bacon. Store it in the freezer. "It can help it last longer without going rancid," Souza says. Just make sure you <a href="http://americastestkitchen.tumblr.com/post/27409306390/it-can-be-difficult-to-use-up-a-pound-of-bacon">roll it up and bag it</a>, or it might get stuck together.

4. Broth. Freeze chicken or vegetable broth (or stock) in ice cube trays. "You can just take a cube, add some hot water, and reconstitute it," Souza says.

chicken stock broth — One for now, one for the freezer. Rebecca Harrington/Tech Insider

5. Butter. "You can buy a pound of butter, keep three sticks in the freezer, and keep the other one in the fridge," Souza says. "That will keep it really fresh."

6. Pesto. If you make a big batch and can't eat it all, Souza says, freeze portion sizes in ice cube trays, then pop them out and store them in a plastic bag for when you want to use them.

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