• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Real Mom Nutrition

Real Mom Nutrition

A no-judgments zone about feeding a family.

  • About
    • Start Here
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Disclosure & Policies
    • Contact
  • New Posts
  • Recipes
    • Most Popular Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • Topics
    • Picky Eating
    • Packing Lunches
    • Nutrition Advice + Ideas
    • Feeding Teens
    • Sports Snacks
    • For Moms
    • School Wellness
    • Family Life
  • Freebies
    • Free Picky Eating E-Course
    • Free Lunch Packing E-Course
  • Shop
    • No-Stress Dinner Planner
    • Let’s Try New Foods E-Book
    • ALDI 4-Week Meal Plan
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Freeze These 6 Ingredients To Make Meal Prep Faster & Easier

Freeze These 6 Ingredients To Make Meal Prep Faster & Easier

by Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RDN
  • Share This
Ingredients To Freeze

It’s a real drag when you’re in a frazzled meal-prep rush and midway through the recipe you realize…

…the leftover tomato paste is moldy!

…I don’t have a lemon!

…'”Chop one onion”?! I don’t have TIME to chop an onion!

When frozen and tucked away in the freezer, these six ingredients are like little gifts of time and sanity when you need them them most. Trust me, your frazzled future self will thank you for it.

Table of Contents
  • 1. Smoothie Cubes
  • 2. Pureed Spinach & Kale
  • 3. Broth
  • 4. Chopped Onion
  • 5. Tomato Paste
  • 6. Lemon Juice

1. Smoothie Cubes

I learned this trick from Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean. It’s the secret to making smoothies without washing the blender every single time! Get the details.

2. Pureed Spinach & Kale

If you’ve got greens that are on their way out, puree them and freeze them in an ice cube tray, then pop out and keep in a zip-top bag. You can toss them into smoothies and sauces.

3. Broth

Got a half-empty carton or can of broth in the fridge? Pour it into ice cube trays, freeze, then keep in a zip-top bag. When your recipe calls for a little bit of broth, you have some (a standard ice cube holds about 2 tablespoons–that’s 1/8 cup).

4. Chopped Onion

I’ve been doing this trick for years and it has saved me loads of time. I chop several onions at once then portion them into zip-top bags (roughly one chopped onion per bag). When a recipe called for a chopped onion, I just pull it out of the freezer and drop the frozen pieces right into my pan.

5. Tomato Paste

I let way too many cans of tomato paste go bad in the refrigerator before learning this trick from Adina at Healthy Little Eaters: Scoop out leftover tomato paste in one-tablespoon blobs on a small plate covered with parchment or wax paper and freeze until firm. Then transfer into a freezer bag. When you need a tablespoon or two of tomato paste for a recipe, throw them in!

6. Lemon Juice

I use a lot of lemon juice in recipes because I love the flavor. You can juice a bunch of lemons, pour into an ice cube tray (I usually get about two cubes per lemon), then transfer frozen cubes into a freezer bag. When you need lemon juice, pull one out to thaw or put it into your hot pan or skillet.

Related: Get recipes for 30 Healthy Freezer Meals 

  • Share This
Category: UncategorizedTag: freezer, kitchen tips, kitchen tricks, meal prep
Previous Post: 20 Healthy Toddler & Preschooler Lunchbox Ideas 20 Healthy Lunchbox Ideas For Toddlers And Preschoolers
Next Post:How Feeding A Tween Is Harder How Feeding A Tween Is Harder

Sidebar

Hi! I’m Sally.

I’m a registered dietitian and mom of two, and I believe that every mom can feel successful and confident about feeding her kids, let go of the stress, and enjoy mealtime again. What you'll find on this site...

Free Printable! 5 Things to Say to Your Picky Eater for a More Peaceful Mealtime

Get it!

Popular Posts

How To See Seven UT & AZ National Parks In Six Days

Easy Pepperoni Rolls Recipe Your Family Will Love!

How to Make An Epic ALDI Cheese Board (w/ Free Shopping List!)

The Best No Bake Cookies

The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe

Veggie Nuggets

Healthy Veggie Nuggets Recipe That Kids LOVE!

Copyright © 2023 · Real Mom Nutrition · All Rights Reserved
Banner image by Michelle Daniel Photography
Disclosure & Privacy Policy