Avoiding Freezer Mysteries

It happens to all of us.  You have a little bit of something leftover.  You know you're not going to use it up in the next day or so, so you decide to freeze it.  Months later, you go to the freezer looking for something and you can't find it.  Sometimes you can't find it because you can't recognize it.   Is this that half cup of evaporated milk leftover from trying that new macaroni and cheese recipe, or is it that 2/3 cup of buttermilk set aside for biscuits before it went out of date?  Is this basil pesto or mint pesto--leftover boned chicken or turkey?

I have developed a system for those little containers and jars of dibs and dabs.  Before I put that plastic lid on the container or screw the lid on the jar, (I always store liquids in jars now--easier to thaw in warm water) I write on what's in it on a piece of plastic wrap or foil.  If I've measured it, I write down how much.  I date it.  Sometimes I even write a note to remind myself what I saved it for.

Today I'm freezing buttermilk--two jars with 2/3 c. for single batches of biscuits and 1 1/3 c. for a double batch.  (Contrary to what you may have heard, you can freeze buttermilk if you're going to bake with it.  Just add a tiny pinch of salt to 'bring it back' after you've thawed it.)

Comments

[rosemaryr]

I didn't know buttermilk could be frozen successfully. And to think of all the partial quarts of buttermilk that have gone down the drain because they've spoiled in the back of my refrigerator! Thanks for the tip!