Tips from the Freezer

The freezer is a food lover's hero because there's not much that can't be frozen until its needed: homemade ready meals (see Timesavers); veg and wonderful herbs; grated cheese for toppings and meat cut in strips for quick stir-frying. This section has a few surprises for us all. Visit the freezer often to keep tabs on what's inside.

• Freeze your leftovers!

  Submitted by Anne Cullen, London

  Even tiny amounts of left-over sauce/spaghetti bolognese/casserole etc. are worth freezing. They can be extended for an emergency pasta sauce (add tomatoes, mushrooms...) or added as a flavour booster to soup.

• LOW FAT STOCK FOR SOUPS OR GRAVIES

  Submitted by Pam Prange, Liverpool

  After roasting meat or chicken pour liquid off into small margarine tubs, leave to cool and allow the fat to rise to the top, then freeze until needed. Microwave for 30 seconds and the layer of fat can then be easily lifted off.

• Left over mashed potato

  Submitted by Cathy Price , Bromley, Kent

  I freeze left over mashed potato in bags and use it for bubble and squeak or shephards pie topping.

• Sandwiches left over from a family buffet?

  Submitted by Louise, Banbury

  Instead of letting them curl up and be thrown away, freeze them whilst they are still fresh. Sandwiches can often be frozen (as long as they are something suitable that you could normally freeze - eg cheese and pickle or ham and mustard is ok but not salad!). If you freeze in lunch size sandwich bags, you have ready made packed lunches to grab when in a hurry before work. They will have thawed by lunchtime!

• Left over yoghurt

  Submitted by Sarah, Limerick, Ireland

  Mix yoghurt with any over ripe fruit such as banana and strawberries. Pour into lolly moulds and freeze.

• Saving cheese

  Submitted by Marie Morris, Colchester

  When I buy a block of cheese I grate the whole lot and freeze it. I can use it from frozen or defrost what I need. It saves time, I never throw any away, and I only have to wash the grater once!

• Freeze ripe bananas for cakes

  Submitted by Gail, Manchester

  When bananas become ripe, throw them in the freezer and defrost when needed to make banana bread/muffins etc, you hardly even need to mash them as they are so runny!

• Incorporate surplus food into your next week's menu

  Submitted by C. Lawrance, Chalfont St Giles

  In planning my 2-week menus, I incorporate any ingredients that are already in my fridge/freezer/cupboards to ensure they are used and not just sitting there.

• Frozen grapes

  Submitted by Martha, London

  If you buy a big bunch of grapes and find you can't eat them all, wash and freeze the leftovers. You can use the frozen grapes to decorate ice cream, blend them into smoothies or just eat them as they are. They taste like mini ice lollies!

• Toast from frozen

  Frozen sliced bread is always useful – simply pop a frozen slice directly into the toaster for a little longer than normal.