Do you sometimes find that you’ve got some extra ingredients or food items leftover, maybe lemon juice, chicken or vegetable broth, bacon oil, chopped garlic, fresh herbs etc., and do not want to let it go to waste? Well, how about simply freeze them in ice cubes and use it another time!
Here are 15 things you can freeze in ice cube trays:
1. Minced/Chopped Ginger or Garlic
Pour little olive oil or any other cooking oil in an ice cube tray and then drop in the minced or chopped garlic. Then, store in the freezer until solid. You can simply drop it into your heated frying pan or pot and let it melt to use. You could also thaw it separately in a bowl.
2. Bacon Oil
Bacon oil can be used as flavouring for meat dishes. Pour your leftover bacon oil into ice cube moulds, let it get solid. Demould and directly toss it into a heated pan or pot, let it melt and its ready to use.
3. Chicken/Vegetable Broth
If you have leftover chicken, vegetable or beef broth, then pour it into ice cubes and store it away for future use. You can demould the ice cubes (as many as you need), place it in a bowl and let it thaw (melt), before use.
4. Fresh Herbs
Place the fresh herbs (chopped or as is) into ice cube moulds and top it up with plain water or cooking oil and freeze. Demould, store them in a freezer bag and let it thaw (melt) before use. In case you have used oil, you can directly toss it into a heated pan or pot for use. Frozen herbs are good for 6 months.
5. Lemon Juice
Transfer the lemon juice into ice cube tray and let it become solid. you can also add in some ginger and honey along with the lemon juice. Take 1-2 cubes, add them to a cup and pour in some water for a healthy morning drink.
6. Wine
Wine once opened and not consumed on the same day, doesn’t taste great. Well, doesn’t matter, because many recipes call for wine. So freeze the wine in ice cube moulds, defrost and use whenever refresh.
7. Coffee cubes
In case you have watered-down coffee brew, do not discard it. Freeze it in ice cube trays and you could use them in your iced coffee. Put Frozen coffee cubes in your favorite glass, top it with water or milk of choice and enjoy. It will keep the drink cold without watering it down as regular ice cubes would.
8. Yogurt cubes
You can simply freeze leftover yogurt in ice cube trays and use them smoothies, smoothie bowls, in dishes, for marinades (once thawed) or even defrost and eat it with granola or chopped fruits. You can also add some fruits or berries in the yogurt to make some delicious, healthy yogurt bites.
9. Tomato Paste or Puree
Pour any leftover tomato paste, puree/homemade sauce into ice cube moulds and freeze. Defrost on a later date, let it thaw completely and it’s then ready to use.
10. Lemon Zest
Pour olive oil (or any other cooking oil) into ice cube trays (fill it just to half), then, add in the lemon zest and let it get fully immersed into the oil. Let it freeze until solid. Whenever needed, toss it directly into a heated pan or let it thaw completely in a bowl for future use.
11. Pesto Sauce
If you have leftover pesto sauce, spoon it into ice cube trays and let them freeze. Demould, thaw it and use on a later date.
12. Orange Juice
Transfer the orange juice into ice cube moulds and let it become solid. Demould, thaw it completely and the juice can then be used as required.
13. Ginger or Garlic Paste
Add the ginger pieces to a blender jar and process until you get a smooth paste. You can add in some water or oil for a smoother paste. Then, store in the freezer until solid. Once frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer bag. You can simply drop it into your heated frying pan or pot and let it melt to use. You could also thaw it separately in a bowl. Frozen ginger will be good for 2 to 3 months.
14. Nut Milk
Pour the nut milk into ice cubes and transfer into a glass to thaw before use. You can also add it into iced coffees, milkshakes and smoothies.
15. Cookie Dough
Stuff in some cookie dough into ice cube mould (do not over stuff) and let it get frozen. You can directly demould and bake them in the oven to make cookies. If ice frozen, then, thaw until semi-solid and then bake in the oven.
16. Avocado cubes
Simply toss your avocado into a food processor or blender, squeeze in some lemon juice, and process to desired texture. Then scoop the puree into into ice cube trays. Fill each cavity with some of your lovely and smooth avocado puree, and freeze. I would recommend buying separate ice cube trays for this as they might get a bit discolored. Place the trays in the freezer until the puree is frozen. Then simply pop the cubes out and place in a plastic storage bag.