- Make extra rice and freeze the extra in 2 cup portions. Works for all kinds of rice and is great for making fast meals.
- When you don' t need the whole container of tomato paste, pu T size "plops" on waxed paper, freeze, then put in a baggie. Use when needed. Tomato sauce, chipotles in sauce and other items also freeze well in smaller portion sizes.
-Buy large quantity of peeled garlic at Costco, chop in food processor, then freeze in extra small ice cube trays.
-Do above with fresh basil and other herbs from garden and have much better taste then dry all winter.
-Make extra of just about any basic - chicken stock, pasta sauce, gravy, etc. and freeze in meal size container. When frozen, pop out of container (usually set it in cold water for a couple minutes will loosen it), then wrap in plastic/foil. Takes up much less space and you don't need hundreds of plastic containers.
-Keep an old margarine tub or similar container for fats and liquids that should not go down the drain. When you add the liquid/fat to it, freeze it. Leave container in freezer and add to it over time. When full, then toss into garbage on garbage day. You can even keep the container if you don't want to toss the plastic.
-Keep frozen orange juice and apple juice concentrate on hand for making marinades, sauces, etc. It helpful when you don't have fresh on hand.