How to Freeze Bananas So They Don’t Totally & Completely Rot

It’s a tale as old as time: you buy a bunch of bananas at the grocery store with every intention to eat them with breakfast or lunch daily for the next five days, but they inevitably go bad before you get the chance. Banana bread is a great way to use …

It’s a tale as old as time: you buy a bunch of bananas at the grocery store with every intention to eat them with breakfast or lunch daily for the next five days, but they inevitably go bad before you get the chance. Banana bread is a great way to use up overripe bananas (as we all know from our quarantine days), but sometimes you can’t find the time to bake a loaf before they turn rotten. Like avocados, it’s tricky to track the ripeness of bananas, which leads to food waste. Enter: freezing bananas. Here’s the thing: freezing and thawing bananas leads to somewhat mushy fruit, so you won’t want to eat them as-is, which means they’re perfect for baking and blending. With this brilliant kitchen tip, you’ll never waste a bunch of bananas and will you’ll them on deck when a banana bread craving strikes. (Sounds like a win-win to us!)

How to Freeze Whole Bananas

Technically, you can freeze unpeeled bananas, but we don’t recommend it; they’ll stick together more than their peeled counterparts. To freeze whole bananas, peel them completely, line them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and put them in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours. Once frozen, transfer the bananas to an airtight, freezer-safe plastic bag or container, and place them back in the freezer.

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How to Prevent Freezer Burn Once and For All

Freezers are magical appliances: They allow us to save homemade soups and sauces for months on end, keep ice cream frozen for our daily after-dinner sundaes, and store ice for cocktail parties (a must). As essential as it is to freeze leftovers and fro…

Freezers are magical appliances: They allow us to save homemade soups and sauces for months on end, keep ice cream frozen for our daily after-dinner sundaes, and store ice for cocktail parties (a must). As essential as it is to freeze leftovers and frozen pizzas for zippy suppers, freezers aren’t always our friends. In fact, they can sometimes be the foe—namely, when so-called “freezer burn” infiltrates our supply of frozen foods.

Let’s get one thing clear: Freezer-burned food is completely safe to eat. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “freezer burn is a food-quality issue, not a food safety issue.” The FDA notes that freezer burn often presents itself as “as grayish-brown leathery spots” on the food in question. So even though freezer burn doesn’t always look or taste quite right, it doesn’t mean your food is spoiled or otherwise harmful if consumed.

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7 Recipes to Make for New Parents

Feeding yourself takes a back seat to feeding (and burping and changing and soothing) a new baby, leaving mere slivers of time for wolfing down food, let alone for whipping up meals, elaborate or otherwise. Which is why cooking for a new parent is an act of love. Dropping off soup, casseroles, or meatballs—all easy to make in big batches, freeze, and reheat—can help sustain parents in those first few weeks of navigating life with a newborn. (Or if you’re expecting yourself, many of these are easy to make and tuck away in the freezer a month ahead of time.) From savory hand pies to vegan enchiladas, read on for seven recipes that will elicit tears of joy from a new parent in your life.

Chicken meatball sub with gobs of fresh mozzarella

Meatballs are a supremely versatile gift—perfect to add protein to a big bowl of spaghetti, eat alone with tomato sauce, or add to a roll for a simple, fork-free meal. Elevate the humble sandwich with Food52 resident baker Erin Jeanne McDowell’s chicken meatball sub with gobs of gooey mozzarella. “While you don’t have to use fresh mozzarella for a melty, gooey sandwich like this, it really makes it so much better,” she writes. Drop off a big batch of meatballs in sauce, along with some sliced rolls, fresh mozzarella, and a box of bucatini to give the gift of several meals.

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Feeding yourself takes a back seat to feeding (and burping and changing and soothing) a new baby, leaving mere slivers of time for wolfing down food, let alone for whipping up meals, elaborate or otherwise. Which is why cooking for a new parent is an act of love. Dropping off soup, casseroles, or meatballs—all easy to make in big batches, freeze, and reheat—can help sustain parents in those first few weeks of navigating life with a newborn. (Or if you’re expecting yourself, many of these are easy to make and tuck away in the freezer a month ahead of time.) From savory hand pies to vegan enchiladas, read on for seven recipes that will elicit tears of joy from a new parent in your life.

Chicken meatball sub with gobs of fresh mozzarella

Meatballs are a supremely versatile gift—perfect to add protein to a big bowl of spaghetti, eat alone with tomato sauce, or add to a roll for a simple, fork-free meal. Elevate the humble sandwich with Food52 resident baker Erin Jeanne McDowell’s chicken meatball sub with gobs of gooey mozzarella. “While you don't have to use fresh mozzarella for a melty, gooey sandwich like this, it really makes it so much better,” she writes. Drop off a big batch of meatballs in sauce, along with some sliced rolls, fresh mozzarella, and a box of bucatini to give the gift of several meals.

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How to Freeze Leftover Turkey (Because We Know You Have Tons)

For many of us, Thanksgiving is the one meal where we purposefully plan for leftovers. A Thanksgiving meal without leftovers just isn’t right in my opinion. This Thanksgiving, much like last year, will probably look a little different than the traditio…

For many of us, Thanksgiving is the one meal where we purposefully plan for leftovers. A Thanksgiving meal without leftovers just isn’t right in my opinion. This Thanksgiving, much like last year, will probably look a little different than the traditional holiday—whether that means on a video call or just pared down. Either way, smaller celebrations can mean more leftover food, especially if you can’t fathom Turkey Day without the turkey. So when it comes to leftover turkey, how long does it actually last in the fridge? And can you freeze it? It’s not as simple as a yes or no, so let’s dive in.

First let’s clarify something: We’re talking cooked turkey. If you have leftover raw turkey, you can certainly store it in the freezer and save it for another day! Here are two tips to help ensure you’re doing it safely. First, keep turkey, or any meat for that matter, in its original packaging. Manufacturers choose this packaging because it’s typically air-sealed to keep bacteria out. If there’s a tear or puncture in the packaging, you should repackage it in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. The more you expose the meat to air and bacteria, the more you increase the potential for spoilage. Secondly, make sure your freezer is set to actually freeze; that means it maintains a temperature of 0°F or below. If you have a separate fridge or chest freezer in the basement that gets used less frequently, this is the time to use it. The more you open and use the freezer, the harder it has to work to regulate the temperature. A frozen whole turkey can be kept for approximately 12 months in a freezer set at or below 0°F, while pieces will start degrading in quality slightly sooner, at around 6 to 9 months.

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Can You Actually Put Glass in the Freezer?

In many ways, the freezer is the closet thing we’ve got to a time machine. It can stop bread from going moldy. It can make summer blueberries last until fall. It can take tonight’s leftovers and transform them into next month’s Tuesday dinner when you …

In many ways, the freezer is the closet thing we've got to a time machine. It can stop bread from going moldy. It can make summer blueberries last until fall. It can take tonight's leftovers and transform them into next month's Tuesday dinner when you don't have time to cook. But how do we get the most from this magical appliance? What are the big dos and don'ts? In Modern Freezer Meals, Ali Rosen shares a slew of freezer-friendly, flavor-forward recipes—Ricotta Gnocchi! Breakfast Sandwiches! Brownie Thins!—and in the excerpt below, she answers some FAQs to lead you toward freezer bliss.


Before Freezing

Can I refrigerate before I freeze?

Absolutely! You want to make sure you are freezing things only when they are room temperature or cold, because the faster food freezes the more intact it stays. Just make sure to know what is surrounding your food. If you put something super-hot into the fridge next to milk and eggs, you might heat those up, so just try not to put anything too hot in the fridge.

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Hey You! Freeze Those Summer Green Beans

There are, of course, many welcome newcomers to the produce aisle this time of year. The tomato is the obvious star of the show (we get it, you’re juicy and sweet and delicious and pretty much perfect), but there’s also eggplants, zucchini, all sorts o…

There are, of course, many welcome newcomers to the produce aisle this time of year. The tomato is the obvious star of the show (we get it, you’re juicy and sweet and delicious and pretty much perfect), but there’s also eggplants, zucchini, all sorts of stone fruit, bell peppers, and corn. One summer growth, however, doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves at the farmers market, and that’s the humble green bean.

They’re sturdy and reliable, endlessly versatile, and thus deserve a spot in summer’s pantheon. I like them cooked low and slow until effortlessly tender and velvety in a good dousing of olive oil. Though green beans can be found year-round (thanks, modern supermarkets), there’s something special about all the varieties of pole and bush beans, like romano, wax, and long, that start to emerge come summertime. So whether you grew your own, picked them fresh, or bought them at a farmers market or grocery store, here’s how to enjoy those summer beans well into cooler months.

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Can You Freeze Potatoes? We Investigated.

A dear friend of mine is famous (infamous?) for once dropping her purse only to have several raw potatoes roll out onto the floor—intended for just the sort of emergency one might encounter in a place with a microwave but no food, like an office, for m…

A dear friend of mine is famous (infamous?) for once dropping her purse only to have several raw potatoes roll out onto the floor—intended for just the sort of emergency one might encounter in a place with a microwave but no food, like an office, for many, in "the before times." For those of us without such forethought, the frozen potato offers a glimmer of hope.

This year has seen the frozen sweet potato seize its rightful place in the zeitgeist (the traditional Chinese technique makes sweet potatoes fluffier and more flavorful), but what of other potatoes? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, instead of losing sleep over that bag of potatoes growing eyes and going green on the countertop, or arriving at work only to find your purse short a spud, you could rest easy in the knowledge that they were waiting for you in the freezer? It was a beautiful idea. And so I decided to investigate.

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12 Excellent Frozen Pizzas for When You Just Can’t

Pizza is a steadfast dinner option when I simply can’t summon the energy to cook. Just give me dough slathered with sauce and melting cheese and I’ll eat it right out of the box, thank you so much. Though my favorite spots for takeout pie are just a sh…

Pizza is a steadfast dinner option when I simply can’t summon the energy to cook. Just give me dough slathered with sauce and melting cheese and I’ll eat it right out of the box, thank you so much. Though my favorite spots for takeout pie are just a short walk away, sometimes the farthest I feel like going is my own kitchen. Because what if I want pizza at midnight—or 9 a.m., for that matter—when the local slice shops are closed? Frozen pizza is the hero we all need. I checked in with some food professionals to get their suggestions for the best frozen pizzas the frozen-foods aisle—and the internet—can offer. Spoiler alert: There are some strong opinions in the mix.

From classic cheese pizzas and Chicago deep-dish to Bagel Bites (oh heck yes, they count!) and even a vegan option, here are the 12 best frozen pizzas, selected by folks who know their food.

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The Very Best Ways to Store Fresh Bread

Let’s start off with the bad news: If there’s a loaf of lean bread on your counter—meaning a loaf without added fat or sugar, such as a sourdough boule, ciabatta, or a baguette—it’s only at its best for a few days after baking. After 48 hou…

Let's start off with the bad news: If there's a loaf of lean bread on your counter—meaning a loaf without added fat or sugar, such as a sourdough boule, ciabatta, or a baguette—it's only at its best for a few days after baking. After 48 hours or so, the bread loses flavor and becomes harder and dryer.

This puts you in a predicament. Either you eat an entire loaf of bread in two days (not easy for even the hungriest of single people), or you watch something beautiful die. Or mold. Or stale. 

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Can You Freeze Cheese?

Can you freeze cheese for a longer shelf-life? Sure you can! But, will it taste good? Well, it depends.

Freezing can irreversibly alter some cheeses’ fat membranes and protein networks. When water in cheese freezes into crystals, those crystals (ice t…

Can you freeze cheese for a longer shelf-life? Sure you can! But, will it taste good? Well, it depends.

Freezing can irreversibly alter some cheeses’ fat membranes and protein networks. When water in cheese freezes into crystals, those crystals (ice takes up more space than water does) cause the fat membranes to collapse. Which means, when thawed, originally creamy cheeses can taste grainy, crumbly, or worst of all off.

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