Any storage secrets?

Maybee, don’t bin cucumber !

slices of cucumber on eyelids (with eyes closed)
draw out heat, especially beneficial for hay fever sufferers.
You will be amazed how hot the slices become and
how quickly.
The knob end, from the fridge, to rub over faces,
especially foreheads, its astringent, cooling, then
when it is warm, slice off the sweaty end, plunge into
freezer for a few minutes, re use, repeat.
It is also good as a long stick, for humous, or even better,
plunged into a Bloody Mary

I'm always throwing away cucumber..just going to check my latest one to see if it's survived.

Another vote for using Parmesan straight from the freezer. I also buy frozen chopped garlic, ginger, chillies, onions (and indeed cubed butternut squash, sliced peppers, broccoli florets, mashed potato… life is short and I loathe prepping vegetables).

Also jars of “Lazy” garlic and ginger. And crispy chilli oil.

You can't. When you freeze fresh herbs the water in the cells of the leave expands and breaks the cell walls.

The cell walls will not mend and re-absorb the water. No damage will be done to your recipe if the herbs were be cooked in the recipe, but fresh herbs have to be bought and kept fresh until used

Can some one help me please . I have tried freezing fresh coriander. I dried, wrapped in kitchen towel , popped into a tight plastic bag . When I came to use it it was wet and not really much good although I did put into a stew. How do I freeze fresh herbs please ladies . Thank you

See butterandjam's contribution on the thread about lights in fridges. You will laugh so much that you won't worry about garlic or parmesan.
Having said that, I totally sympathise about small quantities for single-person households.

Oops... forgot the photo.

I keep garlic in the fridge in this pottery jar. Stays fresh for a very long time. No odour in the fridge either.

Should say instantly accessible

I have just learnt that you can freeze chopped spring onions. I use small quantities in cooking quite often but never a whole bunch.

Agree with the grated parmesan and using Lazy Garlic and ginger.

I use whole garlic cloves quite often too and keep the rest in a garlic pot in the pantry cupboard which has 2 outside walls and is quite cool.

If I don't use a whole pack of chicken thigh fillets (I rarely buy breasts) I chop the the remainder and freeze it in amounts of 150g in bags. I can then get out as much as I need. Similarly with bacon and mince.

‘Lazy Garlic’ in a jar, isn’t bad. Not like the real thing but instantly acc

You can buy frozen garlic, which is a useful standby. I buy a large quantity of fresh, grate it (using the food processor, freeze it flat, then bag it. Lasts for ages. I do the same w ith ginger.

Ditto Parmesan and Grana Padano. Grate it, freeze it flat, bag it and just take out what you need as and when.

The deep freeze has to be everyone's bestie!!!

I keep garlic in my vegetable basket for months at a time. Until they dry like leaves or rot. Fauling that by tubes of garlic paste

Ungrated parmesan will last 6 months or more, kept in the wrapper and in a plastic box.

Milk is made into cheese to preserve it Look at all the pictures of cheese stores. No refrigeration. The cheeses kept wrapped (no polythene) on airy wooden shelves. It can be kept like that for several years. Hard parmesan is meant to be kept for even longer.

If you are worried. Cut cheese into small pieces and freeze. I always have cheddar cheese in the fridge for about a month or more and parmesan even longer

I now buy frozen vegetables. There is no waste and I can use just what I need. Every bit as nutritious as fresh.

Frozen chopped garlic and ready grated parmesan keeps well

Taj frozen crushed garlic in little blocks, also ginger,
from Sainsbury although it must be available elsewhere
as must different suppliers

a piece of Parmesan or hard cheese grated, in small
packs in the freezer drawer

I buy the jars of lazy garlic……..lasts for ages when kept in the fridge. As for parmesan cheese 🤮……..I would sooner boil my own head than eat that! cannot abide the smell, let alone the taste!

Ocado and (I think) Sainsbury’s sell frozen chopped garlic. It’s so useful. Also Sainsbury’s sell their own make of grated Italian cheese in a cardboard container which is kept in the fridge and lasts some time. It isn’t pure Parmesan but fine for me.

I gave up buying fresh garlic awhile ago as I was throwing so much away. I now buy the tubes of puréed garlic. Not quite as good as fresh but no waste

I store grated Parmesan in the freezer. I don’t use a lot as I can’t eat tomato dishes and it seems to last for months.

Nell82

I buy large blocks of English parmesan style cheese from our farmers' market. The stall holder recommended wrapping half in foil and storing it in the freezer.

Might be worth a try?

Ooh, thanks Nell will definitely give that a try.

In the past, I’ve grated a piece of Parmesan and then frozen it, to use straight out of the freezer.

For garlic I use the jars of puree. I still end up throwing out the last bits at times but overall, it’s an easy option.

I also freeze left over herbs in bags. Some are only fit for cooking with eg basil but it’s nice to have fresh ones to hand.

I buy large blocks of English parmesan style cheese from our farmers' market. The stall holder recommended wrapping half in foil and storing it in the freezer.

Might be worth a try?