Stretching Those Produce Dollars Even Further

[jenjenstepmom]

So when produce goes on sale at my hometown store, it is for one of two reason.

1) Over abundance

2) About to go bad.

If it is for reason 2, I will go ahead and buy. But if I don't use it quick enough and have to get rid of it, then I'm still out the bucks I paid for it even it was a really great deal, and then there's no real savings if it's just dumped into the trash.

I thought we could exchange some ideas on what to do with produce that's about to turn so we can really get our money's worth. Here's some of the things I do.

1) Fruit: Depending on the type of fruit, I may freeze it to use later in a smoothie. Most berries, grapes, and bananas are good for this. This way, the frozen fruit takes the place of the ice and you don't have to add ice to your smoothie and the kids love it! You can even make your smoothies with milk instead of juice for added protein. It's a quick easy breakfast. Add cereal for a filler. You can also add yogurt...and you can even freeze the little yougurt cups.

2) Veggies: Saute any veggies that are about to turn with olive oil and seasonings of choice. Sautee some with chinese, mexican or italian spices. Freeze for later cooking. You can easily add later to your fave recipes.

3) Citrus fruits: can be squeezed and put in the fridge for drinking.

4) Onions: Some veggies can simply be chopped and frozen, like onions! (or green beans) Just chop and freeze, then throw them into whatever you need for cooking. This way, if onions are on sale...you can stock up!! Then you are really getting your money's worth.

5) Carrots: can be steamed or boiled then frozen as well for later use.

6) Potatoes: can be cut into wedges, fried, frozen, then reheated in the oven for french fries! It's just like buying Alreida french fries only w/o all the preservatives. If you don't have a littel fryer, I suggest you purchase one. I bought one at Targe for $45 and it's lasted 4 yrs and counting!

Also, you can boil potatoes, then add cheese and spices...whatever you think would be good, then freeze. Thaw and reheat in the oven. Voila...twice baked potatoes! Again, they are homemade and no preservatives! And cheaper than buying them prepackaged and premade.

What ideas do you have?

Jenny

[mom2lucas]

those are some good ideas!

[ellenbeth]

This is a great post OP. I like to make banana bread/muffins when I find bananas marked down cheap. They freeze well too.

[disabledvetswife]

Citrus can be sectioned & frozen. Also, pour juice in ice cube trays, cover with saran, insert toothpicks, freeze & walla - you have popsicles.

[Zade]

You can make potatoes into just regular old mashed potatoes and freeze in family size portions in ziploc baggies. When it is thawed it will be watery and you will think it is ruined but heat them up on the stove or the microwave and they thicken up and taste just like fresh made!

Bananas can be frozen in the peel and used to make banana nut bread.

To keep veggies from getting mushy when freezing just barely cook them then freeze.

[AWise]

I buy markdown produce all the time and it usually lasts for a while. I usually take my broccoli and cauliflower and wash it, cut it off the stalk, cut the brown sections off and put it into a zip loc and it will stay good for a couple of weeks.

[hellokittygirl]

I freeze mashed potatoes, too. Once it's heated, you'd never know!

Like it was already mentioned, bananas do well in the freezer for smoothies later. The peel may turn brown but the inside is fine.

Lots of good ideas in here! I don't know about anybody else, but I LOVE frozen fruits, especially frozen pineapple. Yes, I eat them frozen. It's like a healthy popsicle treat when it's really hot outside. So refreshing!

[mom2lucas]

I got some soft mangoes this week 3/.89 and made babyfood out of them. DD loves mangoes, and it was cheaper than the jarred variety.

I also got some cherry peppers and roasted them in the oven. Used a few for chili the next day and have been using them on sandwiches and in recipes this week.

[daisycrazy]

When I buy brocolli, sale or not, sometimes it starts to wilt a little bit before I get to use it so I have started to do this everytime I buy it no matter what.

I take a narrow topped plastic tupperware dish and put water in it. Cut off the bottom of the stalk. Cut off enough from the bottom to be in the water and the brocolli top to rest on the top container. You don't want the broccoli top in the water, just the stalk. It really helps it stay fresh longer!...just like fresh flowers, you should cut them when you get them hope before you put them in vase.

For grapes, they are pre bagged now so hold up the bag to see if there are any signs of the grapes being wet or smooshed, if so I put them down. I take the bunches out of the bag and give them a little shake. The ones that fall off and the ones that look icky either go in another bag or if they're really bad I just lay them in the produce section the grapes are in. I buy a LOT of fruit and I don't think we should pay for produce that we'll just throw out once we get them home. BTW, if when you give the bunch a little shake and a ton fall off, I wouldn't buy them unless you're going to eat them quickly.

[Wedgeford]

When I find a good deal on onions and peppers, I always buy in bulk. I cut them up, then spread them out on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer. After they're frozen, transfer them to a baggie or container. This way, they'll be frozen in individual pieces, not a big clump. And it's easy to grab a handful for recipes! Frozen onions will last for months. Peppers will last for about a month.