Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Cold as ice: 20 foods that freeze the best
Shuttertock

Cold as ice: 20 foods that freeze the best

Many people have been limiting their grocery store trips over the last year, and a great way to make each haul last longer is by utilizing your freezer. (Who wants to waste food anyway?) Some foods simply don’t freeze well, but others—including some unexpected options—do perfectly fine, and can have a much longer shelf life. Here are 20 foods that freeze best.

 
1 of 20

Avocados

Avocados
Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images

If you’re not planning on serving your avocados diced or sliced, they’re fine in the freezer—just halve them first. In fact, they’ll get mushy in the freezer, so this is perfect for a future batch of guacamole. If you’ve already made the guac, that freezes well, too!

 
2 of 20

Bananas

Bananas
Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images

Sometimes it feels like bananas only exist in two states: shockingly green or completely black. Okay, maybe they’re in the sweet spot of ripeness for a day, but what if you’re not in the mood for a banana that day? Freeze them! To avoid mushiness or freezer burn, first slice the bananas, then place them in a single layer on a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet and put the whole thing in the freezer. After 30 minutes, you can throw all the slices into a freezer-safe bag. This is especially handy if you’ll be using the sliced bananas in oatmeal or a smoothie.

 
3 of 20

Berries

Berries
Natasha Breen/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

It doesn’t matter if it’s strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries—all berries freeze well. This is especially useful considering the brevity of berry season. If you’re worried about the berries getting squished, use the aforementioned baking-sheet method before placing them into a bag. If you’re just planning on using the berries for smoothies, you can skip this step—but you might want to consider freezing them in smaller batches so you don’t end up with one giant frozen berry ball.

 
4 of 20

Bread

Bread
Natasha Breen/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

We’re fans of both buying and making fresh bread (a side effect of loving sandwiches), but it, unfortunately, gets moldy faster than the bagged varieties of breads and buns that contain additives and preservatives. If it’s been more than a couple of days, instead of chucking your bread in the trash, throw it in the freezer. It defrosts quickly, and you certainly won’t notice a difference if you’re toasting the bread. (You might want to consider slicing loaves prior to freezing, though.) This also works for tortillas!

 
5 of 20

Butter

Butter
Ali Majdfar / Contributor

As long as you freeze it prior to the expiration or use-by date, butter can last for about four months in the freezer. Be sure to use an airtight container—not just for optimal freshness, but also because improperly sealed butter can pick up tastes and odors from other foods in the freezer.

 
6 of 20

Cheese

Cheese
Tim Boyle/Getty Images

If you’re into nibbling on cheese with crackers (or wine!) then it’s best to eat the cheese fresh. However, if you plan to cook with the cheese, it’s absolutely fine in the freezer. The best candidates for chilling include hard and semi-hard varieties like cheddar, Swiss, provolone, Colby, jack, and mozzarella, as well as softer goat cheeses. You’ll want to avoid creamier options like brie and Camembert, curd cheeses like cottage and ricotta, and grated parmesan and romano (the latter of which are fine in the fridge for months anyway).

 
7 of 20

Chocolate

Chocolate
BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Worried about your chocolate (especially baking chocolate) turning that weird grey/white color while hanging out in your pantry? Pack it in an airtight container and freeze it. However, it’s important to freeze and thaw the chocolate gradually. To achieve this, place the chocolate in the fridge for 24 hours before putting it in the freezer. To thaw it, reverse the process!

 
8 of 20

Eggs

Eggs
JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images

You can get a great deal on eggs by buying in bulk, but using 24-48 eggs prior to their expiration date can be a challenge. Add another 9-12 months to that date by storing them in the freezer. Crack them open, give ‘em a quick whisk, and add a sprinkle of salt or sugar before putting them all in an airtight container—or divide them up by initially freezing them in an ice cube tray or muffin tin for 4-6 hours before transferring to a larger container.

 
9 of 20

Fish

Fish
Sergei Karpukhin\TASS via Getty Images

Fatty fish like herring, mackerel, and sardines require glazing or vacuum sealing, but salmon and trout are fine in the freezer for up to three months. And you’ll get six months for coldwater fish like cod or haddock! Be sure to get as much air out as possible before freezing, and thaw in the fridge or with cold water.

 
10 of 20

Flour

Flour
Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images

We consistently buy flour in bulk, and inconsistently bake with it. Our solution: extending the shelf life of flour—all kinds—by putting it in the freezer. In fact, freezing whole grain and alternate flours containing additional nutrients is the recommended form of storage. Remove the flour from its bag and use an airtight container with as little air in it as possible for freezing. The best part? Since there’s no moisture in flour, you don’t need to worry about it freezing in a big block, and thus there’s no need to portion it out!

 
11 of 20

Ginger

Ginger
FlowerPhotos/Universal Images Group via Getty Image

If you like to buy fresh ginger but only use a little at a time, try freezing it. Not only will the shelf life go from one month to six months, but it’s much easier to grate frozen ginger! You can also mince or grate the ginger first.

 
12 of 20

Grapes

Grapes
Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Although freezing cucumbers, lettuce, and watermelon isn’t recommended, grapes—which are also mostly water—freeze really well. In fact, they make a great snack while still frozen. Use the same approach as bananas: put them on a tray first before transferring to a freezer-safe bag or container.

 
13 of 20

Herbs

Herbs
Natasha Breen/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

If you grow your own herbs (maybe you read our “Winter Harvest” article?) and are left with an abundance, the freezer can help. Cilantro, basil, oregano, dill, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme are all freezer-friendly herbs. Be sure to dry them thoroughly after harvesting, or consider portioning and initially freezing them in ice cube trays filled with water or oil.

 
14 of 20

Meat

Meat
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Raw meats of all varieties—beef, pork, chicken, turkey, bacon, sausage, steak—are all just fine in the freezer. That’s why we normally buy our meat in bulk! You might want to consider portioning out your ground meats, chicken breasts, burger patties, bacon strips, etc. prior to freezing so you can take out just what you need.

 
15 of 20

Milk

Milk
John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

If you prefer to drink almond, soy, or another milk alternative, but still use moo juice for cooking and baking, freezing your milk is an excellent option. Instead of a week or two in the fridge, frozen milk can be safely stored in the freezer for three to six months. Milk will expand upon freezing and could break its original packaging, so it’s best to move it into a freezer-safe container. And for safety, thaw the milk in the fridge overnight.

 
16 of 20

Nuts

Nuts
Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

Nuts are healthy, but man are they expensive! The last thing you’d want is for your pricey protein source to go to waste—which can happen easily, considering the oil content—so freeze them! Almonds, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts are all fair game. Wrap them in plastic prior to placing them in a freezer-safe bag.

 
17 of 20

Onions

Onions
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

To be honest, we think you should always freeze onions. Not only does it extend the life from two weeks to up to eight months, but chilled onions won’t make your eyes teary when you chop them! Our advice: put the whole onion in the freezer for 30 minutes, chop it all up, and freeze whatever you don’t use.

 
18 of 20

Peppers

Peppers
TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images

Whether you enjoy sweet or spicy peppers, both freeze well. The consistency will change a bit, but if you’re using the peppers for cooking, you won’t notice a difference. However, you’ll still want to wash, remove the seeds and membrane, and slice/dice/chop your peppers before putting them in your freezer-friendly bag or container.

 
19 of 20

Seeds

Seeds
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Seeds and nuts go hand-in-hand, so it’s no surprise that seeds are also freezable. And also like nuts, nearly every variety is included—from hemp, sunflower, and pumpkin to poppy and sesame seeds. Be sure to properly dry the seeds before storage.

 
20 of 20

Soups & Stews

Soups & Stews
Erica Marcus/Newsday RM via Getty Images

We love making soups and stews (including chili!)—not just because it gives us a chance to use our slow cooker, but also because leftovers are easy to freeze. Or, if you’re into meal prep, soups and stews are another great option. For the latter, you’ll want to invest in a good set of small-to-medium-sized freezer-safe containers so you can portion out your meals.

Matt Sulem

Matt Sulem has been writing and editing professionally for more than a decade. He has worked for BubbleBlabber, The Sportster, and The Daily Meal, among other publications, but has called Yardbarker home since 2006. Matt’s writing combines a love for nostalgia with a passion for promulgating interesting, informative, and lesser-known facts about pop culture

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Aaron Boone addresses Alex Rodriguez’s criticism of Yankees
MLB

Aaron Boone addresses Alex Rodriguez’s criticism of Yankees

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone responded Sunday, one day after Alex Rodriguez suggested his team lacks discipline and accountability. On FOX’s MLB pregame show Saturday, Rodriguez questioned the “accountability” of the Yankees after Boone did not pull Jazz Chisholm from Saturday’s loss to Miami after the infielder made a brutal baserunning blunder. Rodriguez suggested that the Yankees do not face consequences for such mistakes, and that it has contributed to further errors. “If any one of us made a mistake, we would be sitting our butt right on the bench,” Rodriguez said. “I see mistake after mistake, and there’s no consequences.” Boone took issue with those remarks when asked about them on Sunday. He said he accepts that the Yankees will always face added scrutiny, but that he disagreed with the substance of Rodriguez’s remarks. “I would disagree a little bit with the accountability factor, but the reality is, we’re focused every day on being the best we can be,” Boone said, via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “That’s how we have to do it. But I understand when it doesn’t happen, or we don’t have the record that I think we should have, or certainly people think we should have — that comes with the territory.” Boone is known for keeping things positive publicly, even when things are going poorly for the Yankees. That has led to some criticism from fans, who feel that he goes too easy on his players when they are underperforming. The team’s recent stretch of mediocre play combined with a lack of consequences for errors like Chisholm’s have reinforced those critiques. The Yankees lost again on Sunday and were swept by the Marlins, dropping them to 60-51 on the season. Until the team starts consistently winning again, Boone is going to hear more comments like Rodriguez’s.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s ‘Fiery’ Response to Wife’s Take on Franchise’s Timeless Tradition
NFL

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s ‘Fiery’ Response to Wife’s Take on Franchise’s Timeless Tradition

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Jordan Love and his wife, Ronika Stone Love, are truly in, well, love. The couple just got married in June, and with the Packers deep into their preparation for the upcoming 2025 NFL season, Ronika shows full support for her husband. In a social media post on Instagram, Ronika shared a series of photos from last Saturday’s Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field. The first photo on the post shows a happy Ronika in the arms of the former Utah State Aggies star signal-caller. “My version of a Lambeau Leap,” Ronika wrote as a caption. Last season, Love played in 15 games, throwing for a total of 3,389 passing yards to go along with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That year was considered a down one for Love, but many expect him to come up with a bigger performance in 2025, as Green Bay looks to surpass its 11-win total in 2024. Fans react to Jordan Love’s wife’s Green Bay Packers Lambeau Leap Apart from Love, many others reacted to Ronika’s heartwarming post. Here are some of them: “Two Green Bay 10’s right there,” said a fan. Another one said: “Hair looks amazing” From a commenter: “Awhhhh y’all are so cute!! And I’m obsessed with the hair it’s giving SZA!! ” “Love the Loves!,” a social media user posted. Via a different commenter: “your outfit is adorable” Said another: “I love the fit! Both of yall ”

Brock Lesnar makes shocking return at WWE SummerSlam
Wrestling

Brock Lesnar makes shocking return at WWE SummerSlam

It's feeling like 2012 all over again. SummerSlam 2025 ended with shock and nostalgia when Brock Lesnar returned unannounced and dropped John Cena with a thunderous F5, just as Cena was addressing the crowd during his retirement tour. The moment felt poetic, mirroring the night after WrestleMania 28 in 2012, when Lesnar returned to WWE for the first time in eight years and F5’d Cena, launching a brutal and unforgettable rivalry. This attack wasn’t just for show. With Cena’s farewell tour expected to end in December, the timing of Lesnar’s return feels intentional. WWE is known for delivering emotional, high-stakes finales for its legends and this could be the setup for one last epic clash between two of the most iconic figures in company history. Their rivalry has always delivered, from their battles in 2012–14 to the infamous “Suplex City” beatdown at SummerSlam 2014. Now, with both men nearing the end of their in-ring careers, fans may be getting a final chapter in this storied feud. Whether it culminates at the Royal Rumble or on the grandest stage of them all at WrestleMania 41, the anticipation is real. Lesnar has been off WWE TV for nearly a year, making this return even more impactful. For Cena, who has been embracing his final run with open arms, a showdown with Lesnar is a fitting, full-circle moment. It’s the kind of storytelling WWE thrives on — legacy vs. legacy, pride vs. redemption.

Milwaukee Brewers: Nestor Cortes Gone, Standout Rookie 3B Has Emerged as Gem from Would-Be Lose-Lose Trade
MLB

Milwaukee Brewers: Nestor Cortes Gone, Standout Rookie 3B Has Emerged as Gem from Would-Be Lose-Lose Trade

Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ return haul from trading co-closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last December. Eight months later, Cortes is a member of the Padres, logging all of two starts in Milwaukee before injuries sapped his season. Over in New York, Williams lost his closer’s job, got it back, and has had one good month en route to a 5.04 ERA. Without the other part of Milwaukee’s incoming package, then minor-league third baseman Caleb Durbin, the trade would look at this juncture like a lose-lose scenario. Thanks to Durbin, it’s been anything but for the Brewers. Caleb Durbin is Milwaukee Brewers’ diamond in the rough Durbin didn’t make the spring training cut. Instead, the Brewers went with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn as the team’s starting third baseman. Durbin went down to Triple-A Nashville. Dunn didn’t last. After he struggled through the first three weeks of the season, he and Durbin switched places and the latter hasn’t squandered his shot. Following a slow start, he’s turned up the heat at the dish while playing outstanding defense. He’s had an OPS around .800 for over two months now and has his season slashline up to .263/.344/.372. His 2.2 WAR in 86 games played is tied for 10th among all third basemen, making him one of the position’s more valuable players. The Brewers saw plenty of promise in Durbin when they traded for him, coming off a strong season with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. Even though he didn’t, he was a decent candidate to make the team out of spring. The team likely didn’t see a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, which he is. By WAR, he and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have contributed the same value to their teams, more than any other NL rookies. Cortes, on the other hand, was supposed to be a consistent cog in the rotation. Last year for the Yankees, he made 30 starts and recorded a 3.77 ERA. Instead, he’s still making his way back from injury ahead of start number three this season. In San Diego. Of course, Milwaukee did turn him into outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who will provide depth while Jackson Chourio is hurt. To dump Cortes’ salary, however, they had to attach a prospect, infielder Jorge Quintana. Neither Cortes nor Williams has been what the receiving team hoped. Both will be free agents this offseason. Only the Yankees, however, are at risk of walking away empty-handed. With years of team control remaining, the Brewers have in Durbin what looks to be their third baseman of both the present and future. The trade didn’t deliver according to expectations, but it’s hard to be too upset with the results.