Fresh food storage / freezer outside etc

[Chouxalacreme]

We don’t have any space inside does anyone have any ideas for storing food outside that work ?

And clever freezing ideas for veggies etc?

Picking your clever brains ! Thank you !

Tinned veggies save space in your freezer. You may not like them but if you have to choose between tinned peas and no space for frozen chips (or other crowd pleaser) go for tinned peas. Xx

When we are having a party between October and April we store drinks that taste better chilled but which do not need to be in a fridge outside. We put them in large plastic crates. We've also stored food in a shed with a secure door in an emergency. We have foxes in the area though and would not want to store food outside unless it was secure. It probably depends on where you are and whether a shed would be in the sun or not. Also, some food could suffer from freezer burn if the temperature were to drop below zero overnight.

If you have space in the freezer, Mediterranean veg freezes ok.

Dice up onions (red are nice), peppers, courgettes, tomatoes (I halve cherry tomatoes), whole or half garlic cloves, etc into the same size dice. (I often add mushrooms, aubergine works well except my family hate aubergine, I’ve added French beans too occasionally).

Season with salt and pepper, dried Med herbs (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary - those sorts in your own choice of combination), decent slug of olive oil. A dash of balsamic vinegar is also good to add.

Can be frozen before cooking. If you’re careful and freeze spread out enough (so it doesn’t just form a solid lump in the bag), you can take it out in handfuls as needed rather than needing the entire pack.

Leftovers can be frozen after cooking.

Good as a side dish just roasted, add some chopped tomatoes to make a ratatouille, or into a plain tomato sauce to serve with pasta. Or tip passata in a roasting dish and throw veg on top, add some chicken or lamb (and maybe some baby potatoes for total ease of cooking) and do as a tray bake.

I have a extra freezer in my shed as it has power, so lucky to have that.

I like buying fresh peppers cut in half and roast them in bulk until a little charred, peel of the skin and you have lovely roasted peppers you can add to all-sorts of things - so tasty! Not keen on the taste of jarred roasted peppers so I do this. I also make Ratatouille in bulk and freeze, and roast courgette and aubergine slices. I tried buying frozen courgettes and thought they were horrid. It really is worth testing what foods you are happy to eat. I only really like tinned sweetcorn for example, so have loads of these!

Also get some growing parsley and bottled lemon juice for added vitamin c boost to foods.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't store things outside. Certainly tins or other well sealed items that won't attract animals. I would definitely be putting them in plastic boxes with clipped lids though and would think about where I am leaving them. At the moment the temp is quite warm in the sun, if a bit windy so I would out them in the corner of the garden that gets very little sun and then only first thing in the morning. But I am in the south, if its still a high change of frost still I would try and insulate them a bit to stop them freezing. Maybe a blanket lining the box and wrapped over the top before the lid put on would help a bit. Of it you feeling very dedicated, outside during the day then bring them in at night to stop them freezing.

Vaccum bags to free up more space in the freezer - my recent idea that’s splendid and even for hospital bags etc