Nutrition: Frozen assets

The Oprah Magazine

The best tools for eating more nutritiously and saving money!

Bread:

Freeze the whole bread rather than sliced

• reducing the exposed surface area will prevent the bread from drying out. Best used within a month.

Vegetables:

Blanch vegetables like broccoli and spinach in boiling water, then freeze in plastic bags

• Blanching stops enzyme reactions and preserves flavor, color and texture.

Meat/ fish:

To avoid freezer burn, vacuum-seal your food-filled freezer bag by placing it in a large pot of water. Submerge all but the top of the bag, squeeze out the air, and close the bag.

• The water acts as a natural vacuum, forcing air out the top.

Rice:

Storing pantry basics like rice in your icebox could save MONEY.

• That's because freezers work more efficiently when they are full- solids stay longer than gases.

(Source: The Oprah Magazine, February 2010)