Storing vegetables, tinned/frozen etc

[WellBHoise]

Due to multiple allergies, and health problems in the family, we eat quite a high fresh vegetable and salad diet (plus crap so aren’t all skinny!). So we can’t stock up on beans on toast. Don’t have a second freezer and can’t live on beans and tuna. Currently get 2 shopping deliveries a week for the fresh stuff.

Things our diets relvolve around are lettuce/rocket/watercress, cucumber, courgette, carrot, broccoli, pepper, onion and sweet potato.

What veg can we chop and freeze? I know Tins are limited to carrots, beans and peas. Limited freezer space so will use up the bulky pizzas etc and store veg that can be used to stir fry etc. What about cheese and eggs, I saw somewhere about freezing?

Ha! My autocorrect changed bigger ones to boys. Not sure what that says about my usual texting practice.

That's the price range I'm looking at as well. As a complete newbie I don't want to make too big an investment in case I don't take to it.

I have the andrew james rectangular one. Ive had it for about 5 years now and no complaints.

Thanks all, really useful stuff

Butternut squash or any other squash will last for ages without going off .

This one, @cloudtree? It looks great, and it's on sale here!

www.andrewjamesworldwide.com/kitchen-c1/preservation-c13/dehydrators-c62/rectangular-digital-food-dehydrator-with-6-trays-p181/s294?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=andrew-james-rectangular-digital-food-dehydrator-with-6-trays-colour-colour-black-aj000350&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CjwKCAiA99vhBRBnEiwAwpk-uEz5o9w2Hmdmq1RHsnEO-mLJ54AY_SLfxu0R8a7s9ngUevZzSxSrzxoCGs8QAvD_BwE

Yes that's the one. I've been really pleased with it. I also have the Andrew James vacuum packer which I would also be happy to recommend.

While you can't freeze lettuce, rocket etc it's really easy to grow them on a windowsill as cut and come again greens - harvest small and keep sowing. Pea shoots (sow densely and harvest at about 10cm high) are delicious too. Most veg freeze well except courgettes - batch cooking caramelised onions or tomato sauce and freezing in portions is a real timesaver.

I have no problem at all in freezing courgettes. I have loads chopped and in the freezer and I use them from frozen when making lasagne, meatballs etc.

Leeks and onions can be chopped and frozen raw. Butternut squash or pumpkin lasts for ages if the skin is intact, or can be chopped and frozen.

Most veg can probably be frozen but will loose some of the texture to better for using in cooking rather than eating alone. E
g. Frozen peppers are fine in a stir fry but I wouldnt put them on a salad!

I have three large aubergines in the dehydrator at the moment - special offer in Lidl. Three pineapples then going in!