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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 12:41:43 GMT
What do you use to freeze small portions of things like soft cheese, cream etc? I often get things like cottage cheese or sour cream for a particular recipe then once it's open, it has to be used within 48 hours or so, so I often end up throwing it away as I don't need it - until the next time I make that recipe!
The plastic sandwich bags I can find are way too big really and although I have some small lidded plastic pots I would quickly run out if they were all in the freezer.
Any better ideas?
ETA - ice cube trays are ok for really small quantities of liquid etc but to freeze 100g of soft cheese or cream would take lots of them so I'm still on the lookout for a solution for that.
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Post by RobbyKay on Sept 5, 2020 12:47:29 GMT
Pack your remainders into an ice cube tray, then freeze. Once frozen, you can pop out the cubes and store them in a bag in the freezer.
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 12:56:25 GMT
 Why didn't I think of that?! Thank you 
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Why
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,135 
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Post by Why on Sept 5, 2020 13:08:02 GMT
I keep sour cream a lot longer than 48 hours after opening. I have never heard that it needed to be used up that quickly.
Of course I never thought of freezing it either. Good to know you can do that.
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Post by idahopea on Sept 5, 2020 13:11:28 GMT
The ice cube tray is a great idea! I have never tried to freeze sour cream or cottage cheese.
The snack size ziploc bags are smaller than other sizes. Have you tried those? I freeze lemon juice in one by laying it slightly diagonal on top of something else, but as flat as possible while trying not to get the juice in the zipper part. Once frozen, I can tap the bag on the counter to break off small pieces as needed. I freeze lemon and orange zest in the snack bags too.
I buy the huge bag of grated parmesan cheese from Costco and freeze it in a bunch of sandwich size ziploc bags. Then I can take one out as we need it. Works great and you can't tell it has been frozen.
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 13:32:12 GMT
The snack size ziploc bags are smaller than other sizes. The smallest I have seen (although I admit I haven't done a lot of searching yet) are 7 or 8 inches square-ish approximately which seems unnecessary use of a lot of plastic for 2 tablespoons worth of something. I will look and see if I can find anything smaller. I keep sour cream a lot longer than 48 hours after opening. Actually you're right, sour cream is ok for longer, I was thinking of other creams and things like yogurt. |
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Sept 5, 2020 13:33:23 GMT
Sour cream, cottage cheese and the like don’t have to be used within 48 hours after opening. Those things last usually until the date on the container. We always have them in our fridge.
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 5, 2020 13:50:49 GMT
I keep sour cream at least a week. But I’ve found some Alpro natural yogurt—no flavoring or sweetener. It really has the tang of sour cream, so use that. It comes in a pack of four 100ml individual cups.
Now that it’s just the two of us at home, I find myself popping a lot of odds and ends in the freezer. My problem is that I need to remember that they are there.
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 5, 2020 13:53:39 GMT
The snack size ziploc bags are smaller than other sizes. The smallest I have seen (although I admit I haven't done a lot of searching yet) are 7 or 8 inches square-ish approximately which seems unnecessary use of a lot of plastic for 2 tablespoons worth of something. I will look and see if I can find anything smaller. I keep sour cream a lot longer than 48 hours after opening. Actually you're right, sour cream is ok for longer, I was thinking of other creams and things like yogurt. I’ve seen snack sized ziplock bags here in the store brands. They are about 15 cm across and 8 cm tall. I can pop some in the mail for you if you want. I’ll use the Belgium post and it won’t be expensive at all. |
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on Sept 5, 2020 13:54:58 GMT
I have clear deli containers in 3 sizes from Amazon that work great for freezing all sorts of things. I just label the tops with freezer stickers also from Amazon. I love to freeze individual portions of soups to pull out for lunches.
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Post by getting started on Sept 5, 2020 13:56:29 GMT
Plus one the ice cube tray idea. I use this for bits of any leftover liquid. Like extra soup broth when I just need a little in the crock pot. Or extra pineapple juice when I only need a little for a recipe.
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 14:08:03 GMT
The smallest I have seen (although I admit I haven't done a lot of searching yet) are 7 or 8 inches square-ish approximately which seems unnecessary use of a lot of plastic for 2 tablespoons worth of something. I will look and see if I can find anything smaller. Actually you're right, sour cream is ok for longer, I was thinking of other creams and things like yogurt. I’ve seen snack sized ziplock bags here in the store brands. They are about 15 cm across and 8 cm tall. I can pop some in the mail for you if you want. I’ll use the Belgium post and it won’t be expensive at all. That's really kind, thank you...let me have a proper look and if I can't find any I'll message you if that's ok? |
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 14:08:45 GMT
But I’ve found some Alpro natural yogurt—no flavoring or sweetener. It really has the tang of sour cream, so use that. It comes in a pack of four 100ml individual cups. I'll look for them too!  |
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 14:11:19 GMT
Sour cream, cottage cheese and the like don’t have to be used within 48 hours after opening. Those things last usually until the date on the container. I have some ricotta cheese and some single cream in my fridge at the moment and although their use by date is a good way off, it says on the pot 'Once opened, use within 3 days" |
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 5, 2020 14:18:05 GMT
But I’ve found some Alpro natural yogurt—no flavoring or sweetener. It really has the tang of sour cream, so use that. It comes in a pack of four 100ml individual cups. I'll look for them too! I forgot to say this—milk yogurt tastes similar, too. It doesn’t need to be the Alpro brand. (I just have a dairy allergy.) And yes, I’d be happy for you to PM me. I would only cost a € or two to send an envelope full of baggies. I’d be happy to do it!!! |
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 14:20:35 GMT
I'll look for them too! I forgot to say this—milk yogurt tastes similar, too. It doesn’t need to be the Alpro brand. (I just have a dairy allergy.) And yes, I’d be happy for you to PM me. I would only cost a € or two to send an envelope full of baggies. I’d be happy to do it!!! Ok, thanks for that - we're not yogurt eaters on it's own but it does add a nice tang to recipes sometimes. You're a star! |
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Sept 5, 2020 14:41:27 GMT
Sour cream, cottage cheese and the like don’t have to be used within 48 hours after opening. Those things last usually until the date on the container. We always have them in our fridge. I’m glad you said this. I always have sour cream in the fridge and never use it w/in 48hours. And now that I’m going into “cookie season” I’ll always have cream cheese in there as well. |
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Post by jubejubes on Sept 5, 2020 14:49:41 GMT
I freeze lemon juice in one by laying it slightly diagonal on top of something else, but as flat as possible while trying not to get the juice in the zipper part. Once frozen, I can tap the bag on the counter to break off small pieces as needed. I freeze lemon and orange zest in the snack bags too. I use empty pill bottles (smaller ones) to store the juice of freshly squeezed lemon juice. I fill the empty bottles with boiling water to clean them out. I know the quantity (1 tbsp, ect) that fills each little bottle. The lids are secure, as well. Freeze and use as needed. |
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 14:50:44 GMT
Sour cream, cottage cheese and the like don’t have to be used within 48 hours after opening. Those things last usually until the date on the container. We always have them in our fridge. I’m glad you said this. I always have sour cream in the fridge and never use it w/in 48hours. And now that I’m going into “cookie season” I’ll always have cream cheese in there as well. I don''t know what the difference is then between yours and ours in the UK - more preservatives maybe? |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 5, 2020 15:13:14 GMT
Pack your remainders into an ice cube tray, then freeze. Once frozen, you can pop out the cubes and store them in a bag in the freezer. I knew that, but it was long forgotten! THANKS for the reminder! I'll need to get another ice cube tray! My present are filled with ice! |
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Post by idahopea on Sept 5, 2020 15:20:16 GMT
The snack ziplocs I have are 6.5 inches by 3.25 inches according to the box. That's 16.5cm by 8.2cm for the rest of the world. 😂
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Post by Basket1lady on Sept 5, 2020 16:19:09 GMT
I freeze lemon juice in one by laying it slightly diagonal on top of something else, but as flat as possible while trying not to get the juice in the zipper part. Once frozen, I can tap the bag on the counter to break off small pieces as needed. I freeze lemon and orange zest in the snack bags too. I use empty pill bottles (smaller ones) to store the juice of freshly squeezed lemon juice. I fill the empty bottles with boiling water to clean them out. I know the quantity (1 tbsp, ect) that fills each little bottle. The lids are secure, as well. Freeze and use as needed. I use little bowls that I got from Ikea in the children’s section. I’m usually just freezing the juice from 1/2 a lemon or lime, so there’s only 1/4” (.5cm) of juice in the bottom. I take the frozen disk and put it into a zip bag, then just break off a piece to use in a recipe. |
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Sept 5, 2020 16:19:26 GMT
I’m glad you said this. I always have sour cream in the fridge and never use it w/in 48hours. And now that I’m going into “cookie season” I’ll always have cream cheese in there as well. I don''t know what the difference is then between yours and ours in the UK - more preservatives maybe? That sound right for the U.S.  |
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Post by christine58 on Sept 5, 2020 16:22:01 GMT
Sour cream, cottage cheese and the like don’t have to be used within 48 hours after opening. Those things last usually until the date on the container. We always have them in our fridge. I cannot imagine freezing them...I'd think they would be gross upon thawing |
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Sept 5, 2020 16:55:09 GMT
This gave me so much anxiety, I've always just kept sour cream and the like until it gets used or until the expiration date.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Sept 5, 2020 16:58:28 GMT
There is a brand of “ice cube trays” called Souper Cubes specifically for this purpose. I think each cube is 8oz/250 ml. that’s larger than I generally need so I found some silicone ice cube trays made for larger, fancy, cocktail ice cubes that works perfectly.
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Post by FrozenPea on Sept 5, 2020 17:24:42 GMT
For items that hold their shape like tomato paste, I use my cookie scoop and make little scoops on a cookie sheet and freeze. Then store in a zip lock.
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Post by pattyraindrops on Sept 5, 2020 17:56:00 GMT
Muffin tins or muffin silicon pans work well too. I've never frozen sour cream etc, but have frozen other things. When frozen I just get them out of the tins and put them in a gallon size zip lock bag and squeeze the air out each time I open it.
I do ice cube trays for lemon juice (lots of lemon trees here.)
I also do cranberry juice. If someone starts getting symptoms of urinary tract infections then we just 1 or 2 cubes in our glasses of water for a few days.
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Post by gar on Sept 5, 2020 20:16:26 GMT
This gave me so much anxiety, I've always just kept sour cream and the like until it gets used or until the expiration date. So it doesn’t suggest using within 2/3 days on the pots? |
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Sept 5, 2020 20:55:14 GMT
I got some snack-size ziploc bags (store brand) at the Dollar Tree- they're about 4x4".
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Why didn't I think of that?! Thank you 
