buckwheat waffles, what foods can you freeze? + 13 foods you probably didn’t know you could freeze

What Foods Can You Freeze?

+ {gluten-free vegan buckwheat waffles are soo delicious–save time & money by making a triple batch & freezing.}

Have you ever wondered what foods you can freeze?

The answer is: most foods freeze well. I’ve made a list of 13 foods that freeze well, including my buckwheat waffles. Which by the way, are almost better than buckwheat pancakes. They’re easy to make & are an excellent freezer food (& much better than Eggo frozen waffles!). These buckwheat waffles are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, & refined-sugar free. They also happen to be one of my kid’s favorite foods.

For the recipe, go to Ricki Heller’s site (totally honored to be featured there!), where today I share the full recipe.

The fun thing about waffles, like so many other foods, is that you can make a double or triple batch & freeze all of the leftovers. This way you can enjoy their warm & crispy goodness any time you want by just popping in the toaster.

Waffles aren’t the only foods that freeze well.

Actually, a great deal of foods can be frozen, but a lot of people just don’t think to do it. A few weeks ago I shared with you how frozen is often better. We have an extra freezer to accommodate all of our extra food, but even if you don’t have an extra freezer, or a ton of freezer space, you can use your freezer to help you save money & time.

The freezer can help you save money & time by:

1) cutting down on food waste 2) enables you to save time by making double or triple batches of food & then freezing half or more for later use 3) cuts down on the amount of shopping trips you need to make each month (saves time and money–yes!)

What foods can you freeze?

Most foods are freezable, but some do better than others. Here are 13 foods you probably didn’t know you could freeze. You’re probably already freezing bananas for your smoothies & using frozen vegetables, but did you know you can freeze tofu, bread, almond milk?

Can you freeze tofu?

Yes. Frozen tofu defrosted has a chewier texture, that when crumbled has a texture that resembles feta cheese. Try adding crumbled frozen tofu (make sure to squeeze out all the water before using) to chili, or try it in my thai quinoa coleslaw.

Can you freeze hemp nut seeds?

Yes, but these little seeds are better off in the fridge. Hemp nut seeds go rancid fast, so store in fridge for extended shelf life.

Can you freeze chia seeds?

No. Due to the high oil content, simply store in an airtight, preferably glass container in cool area.

Can you freeze spinach?

Yes. I like to use frozen chopped spinach in veggie lasagna & in soups. If you have leftover raw spinach that you won’t be able to use before it goes bad, wash it up, dry it, & put in a freezer bag, & freeze to be used in a green smoothie later.

Can you freeze chopped onions?

Yes. Flash freeze* first to avoid getting huge clumps of onion. Perfect for sauteing & using in soups & stir-fry.

Can you freeze bread?

Yes! Bread–from rolls, to breadsticks, muffins & sandwich bread–these all freeze well. In fact, whenever I make bread I usually make a dozen loaves or so (truly) & freeze most of them (benefit of having an extra freezer!). That way I only have to make bread once a month or so.

Can you freeze tortillas?

Yes. Same as breads. You’ll need to defrost by setting on your counter top to thaw for 20 or 30 minutes before you’ll be able to separate tortillas (unless you flash freeze*).

Can you freeze cake?

Yes, in fact I just froze a few leftover slices of my carrot cake. Since I freeze individual servings, this makes it easy to have dessert any time I’m feeling like it without messing up the kitchen. (YES!)

Can you freeze almond milk?

Yes, but remember liquids expand when frozen, so only fill container 3/4 full.

Can you freeze leftover smoothies/juices?

We are smoothie addicts in the bring joy household–our recent faves come from my friend Leanne’s Vibrant Life cookbook, which has reignited my love & passion for delicious & nutrient-packed smoothies. The thing is, my kid’s don’t always drink the full serving I give them. And, because the ingredients in these smoothies are pricey, you better believe I’m not about to let it go to waste. So, I have them throw their smoothie in the freezer & they pull it out later & chip away at it & eat it like a frozen dessert. Also, if you make a smoothie or juices & end up not drinking everything in the blender, pour into an ice cube tray. When frozen, just pop out & put in freezer bag, to be used in future smoothie endeavors.

Can you freeze waffles? pancakes? crepes?

Yes to all three! {I have recipes for both gluten-free vegan crepes & pancakes, here & here. For the buckwheat waffle recipe, go here.}

Can you freeze watermelon?

Yes! Best used in smoothies, because once the watermelon defrosts, it turns mushy.

Can you freeze cooked brown rice?

Yes. Here’s a great tutorial for how to freeze cooked brown rice.

Can you freeze uncooked brown rice?

Yes. Because of the higher oil content in unrefined rice, brown rice goes bad much quicker than white rice, which does not spoil quickly. To keep brown rice fresh, I put some of my brown rice in a gallon glass jar & store the rest in my freezer. This keeps the brown rice from going rancid. I’ve found it’s best to eat brown rice within a month of purchasing–after that, freeze it.

Can you freeze uncooked buckwheat?

Yes! In fact, since buckwheat is very similar to brown rice in terms of having a quick rancidity rate, if you have more than a few pounds of buckwheat, you’ll want to store in the freezer, if possible.

*What is flash freezing?

Flash freezing means you lay the food on a baking sheet (spread it out so the individual pieces of food aren’t touching) & put in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, remove pieces of food & store in a freezer bag.

This prevents the food from clumping & enables you to use smaller, individual portions of food. Especially good to flash freeze things like bananas, where you’ll want individual banana chunks, rather than a big clump (which is what will happen if you just throw a bunch of peeled bananas in the freezer without flash freezing).

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Do you freeze any of the above listed foods?  Do you have anything to add to the list?