Sales of frozen desserts soar as shoppers look to cut food waste – but do YOU know what produce you can keep in the freezer – and the foods that will spoil?

• Many foods can be frozen, from bananas to milk, but some like lettuce can’t be
• Must read:  Forget the plant based diet, it’s time to eat up your trees

Ocado has revealed that sales of frozen deserts are up almost a third since the start of the year, as shoppers look to cut food waste during the cost of living crisis.  

Arctic rolls are leading the way, with sales up 143 per cent year on year but sales of classic 80s pudding Vienetta are also up by 55 per cent.

Ocado buying manager Helen Munro said: ‘Demand for frozen deserts has grown significantly. 

‘Customers are looking to waste less with products that last longer and frozen deserts fit the bill.’

But it’s not just frozen puddings that can help save money. 

From bananas to cheese and potatoes, many household staples can be frozen so they don’t go to waste.

Here Femail brings you the top unusual foods that can be frozen – and those that definitely can’t. 

1. Mushrooms

There’s nothing worse than an old, slimy mushroom. But you can prevent waste by freezing these veg. Simply cut them into slices, fry, cool – and then place into some tupperware for freezing.  They can then be used for future sauces, casseroles or pizza toppings. To defrost, cook straight from frozen or leave in the fridge to thaw. This avoids them becoming soggy

2. Yoghurt 

But not everything can go in the freezer… 

Lettuce 

According to Eatingwell, lettuce can’t be frozen. This is because the cell walls will burst, causing the veg to go from crisp to mushy, soggy and translucent. This is the case for romaine and iceberg lettuce – and also veg with a high water content like cucumber, bean sprouts and radishes. However greens like spinach, kale and chard can be frozen. 

Fried food  

It may be tasty but sadly you can’t freeze fried food, such as deep fried chicken, fish and fries. The oil will apparently seep through, leaving the food soggy and changing its flavour.

Cream-based soups

While many stocks and soups freeze tremendously well, anything with dairy in it runs the risk of separating and curdling. This leads to a soup with a grainy texture that will end up being inedible. Try freezing soup before adding in dairy, and add it on reheating. 

Mayonnaise 

This household staple cannot be frozen when nearing it’s use by date. It is made from an emulsion mixture typically made of oil, egg yolks, vinegar or lemon, and seasonings. But these will separate when thawed – and definitely won’t be good for spreading on a sandwich.

We all know frozen yoghurts are a thing – especially in America. But still some people may not know they can freeze their own. If they are reaching their use-by date, just put them in the freezer for a quick pudding or snack. They will make a healthy alternative to ice-cream. They can be frozen in their packets or poured into lolly moulds. Eat them straight from the freezer or blitz with fruit and milk to make a creamy smoothy.

3. Pesto 

We have all no doubt had an opened jar of pesto going mouldy in the fridge. But you don’t need to waste this – especially as the jars are expensive. Once it is nearing its end of life, put it in the freezer. You can also portion it out so you only defrost what you need for next time. It can be stored in ice cube trays or freezer bags. To defrost, allow to thaw in the fridge or defrost in the microwave.

4. Pasta

Alongside pesto, should you cook too much pasta – which is easy to do – you can also freeze it. Ideally it is best to cook the pasta al dente – so it isn’t soggy and will still be tasty after freezing, thawing and reheating. You can also freeze any pasta dish, such as spaghetti Bolognese with the sauce all together. Defrost fully in the fridge. 

5. Lemons and limes  

Citrus fruits can be expensive – so again, it’s annoying to waste them. And there is no need. If you want your fruit for baking, simply cover it in cling film and freeze. If you want the zest, again grate it and freeze. But if you want your lemons for gin and tonics, then cut into slices and freeze individually. The beauty of this is you don’t even need to defrost them – simply pop them straight in your drink.

6. Eggs 

Often, you can’t even buy eggs, so you certainly don’t want to waste them if you have them. According to Cleverlyme, you can freeze eggs – but not as a whole egg in its shell. Instead, crack them open, whisk the whites and yolks together and then pour them into an ice cube tray. They can then be easily defrosted when needed.

7. Rice 

There is a general rule that you can only reheat rice once it has already been cooked. So if you have made too much, rice can often be wasted. It can, however, easily be frozen in resealable bags and used again. It’s also a cheap dinner option for those looking to save money on food. 

8. Garlic

Often recipes only call for half an onion, or just a clove or garlic, so these can easily go bad in the fridge. To avoid this, simply chop them up and pop into the freezer in small, usable portions. This will save time in preparation too. 

9. Avocados  

They are expensive to buy – and easily go off at home. But with a bit of preparation, avocados can be frozen. Simply cut them in half, remove the skin and stone and pop them in the freezer in resealable bags. Perfect on toast for a weekend treat. 

10. Potatoes  

No one wants to waste mashed potato, but if you really have too much, then it can simply be frozen. Similarly, unused potatoes can also be frozen. Just peel and blanch them for five minutes. Once they are hot, leave them in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes and then freeze in airtight bags.  Another tip is to freeze cooked potatoes on a baking tray so they are not touching and keep their shape. This means you don’t have to defrost them in one go. To defrost roasties, cook straight from the freezer. For mash, defrost overnight in the fridge. 

11. Wine

It is not just foods that can be frozen. If wine is still on your shopping list, you can also avoid it going vinegary by freezing in an ice cube tray. Then you defrost it and do shots – or alternatively add a few to make a glass.   

12. Nuts

It may sound nuts, but you can freeze these healthy snacks an it makes them last much longer. Seeds and nuts actually thrive in a colder environment and this keeps them fresh and full of flavour. Freeze in a zip lock bag so they keep the right level of moisture, and use from frozen. You can even freeze them with shells. If you want warm nuts, you can defrost them in a pan. 

13. Milk

The best way to freeze this household staple is to pour it into an ice-cube tray. According to Goodtoknow.com, if you want to freeze a whole bottle or carton, make sure you pour out a little as it will expand when frozen. Defrost in the fridge, gently shaking it at times to mix the water and the fat back together. 

14. Stilton

If your Stilton is smelling riper than usual and is on the verge of going bad, simply grate it and store in the freezer, where it will maintain its texture. This can be done for other cheeses too. You can also slice it for separate portions. Cheddar freezes quite well as does mozzarella. To defrost, do it slowly in fridge, or simply melt into cooking. 

15. Bananas 

It may sound bananas but these fruit can easily be frozen with or without their skins. It is best to do it when they are ripe with brown spots. Defrost them with a little burst in the microwave, even with their skins. They will go a little mushy, which is great for baking banana cakes or muffins. Or from frozen, you can blend bananas with milk or yogurt to make smoothies.

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