I'm a food reporter and these are the 8 essential items I always have in my freezer

Rachel AskinasiJul 18, 2020, 17:02 IST

My staples range from ginger to corn tortillas.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Freezer staples can make preparing a meal possible when your pantry and fridge are looking bare.
My tiny freezer is packed to the brim with leftovers, sauces, and confections, but there are only eight items that I consider to be must-haves.
From frozen meats to veggies, this list ensures that I can easily create an entire meal using just what's in my freezer.
Soups, spices, and even ravioli are items you can find in my freezer all year.

I rely a lot on what's in my freezer. I'm a single human with a budget that allows for two big meals out at a restaurant per month. And while I love to cook, I turn to what's in my pantry and freezer when I'm tired and need something quick, or when I'm not up for making a grocery run.

Having a well-stocked freezer is helpful for everyone. It means you're prepared for the time when you're tired, lazy, or you've spent too much on something like, let's say a pair of shoes, and you don't want to spend more on dinner.

While I believe everything on this list can be of use in your kitchen, it's filled with things I personally like. So, take stock of the things you love and start creating a personalized reserve pile in your freezer.

Frozen ginger cubes and garlic cubes are great back-ups to have if you run out of the fresh stuff.

You can pop out crushed ginger just like ice cubes. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I like to have a fresh ginger root around for slicing into tea or grating into my dinner, so I keep a package of frozen crushed ginger in my freezer at all times.

I pop out one or two cubes and use them in soups, fried rice, or something else I'm making on the stove. You can also use them in smoothies if you're looking for a ginger zing.

The frozen cubes come in variations of garlic and other herbs as well, but I typically only stock the ginger.

I like to have a fresh ginger root around for slicing into tea or grating into my dinner, so I keep a package of frozen crushed ginger in my freezer at all times.

I pop out one or two cubes and use them in soups, fried rice, or something else I'm making on the stove. You can also use them in smoothies if you're looking for a ginger zing.

The frozen cubes come in variations of garlic and other herbs as well, but I typically only stock the ginger.

I always have corn tortillas in my freezer.

I use these most often. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Tacos are my go-to, last-minute meal. I'll see what kind of seafood I have on-hand and typically I'll make fish tacos because they take minimal time.

But, if I don't have fish in the fridge and I have some sort of chicken or steak leftovers, I'll usually throw that into a tortilla instead. When all else fails, or when I need something to eat really quickly, I'll make breakfast tacos with eggs — regardless of what meal it's for.

Tacos are my go-to, last-minute meal. I'll see what kind of seafood I have on-hand and typically I'll make fish tacos because they take minimal time.

For ultimate convenience, I keep packs of frozen, microwavable rice that's ready in just three minutes.

There are loads of grains to choose from. Geri Lavrov/Contributor/Getty Images

Rice is one of my pantry staples, so I always have uncooked grains somewhere in my kitchen. But, rice admittedly takes a while to cook. And then there's the dreadful issue of cleaning the pot.

So, for the times when I'm hungry and lazy, I pull out a package of the frozen stuff and it really does the trick.

I typically stock the jasmine variety, but Trader Joe's sells a range of frozen grains like brown rice, quinoa, and organic versions of all three among others.

Rice is one of my pantry staples, so I always have uncooked grains somewhere in my kitchen. But, rice admittedly takes a while to cook. And then there's the dreadful issue of cleaning the pot.

So, for the times when I'm hungry and lazy, I pull out a package of the frozen stuff and it really does the trick.

I typically stock the jasmine variety, but Trader Joe's sells a range of frozen grains like brown rice, quinoa, and organic versions of all three among others.

Ravioli is always hiding somewhere in the depths of my freezer drawers.

I keep them in a sealable bag. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I started keeping ravioli as a freezer staple while I was in college. They're inexpensive and way more exciting than just making plain pasta for dinner — even though it's just as easy.

I love stocking butternut squash ravioli in the fall, but I also love varieties like sun-dried tomato or roasted pepper and goat cheese.

I started keeping ravioli as a freezer staple while I was in college. They're inexpensive and way more exciting than just making plain pasta for dinner — even though it's just as easy.

I love stocking butternut squash ravioli in the fall, but I also love varieties like sun-dried tomato or roasted pepper and goat cheese.

Mixed vegetables can be used in a wide variety of dishes.

My favorite mixed veggies have corn, green beans, carrots, and soy beans. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Frozen vegetables are great for any level of home cook. They make for a quick side dish to a homemade dinner or a perfect add-in to whatever main you're cooking up.

I prefer to keep a vegetable medley around, which saves room in my small freezer while providing a handful of different veggies to mix into my fried rice or skillet potatoes.

If the store is out of mixed, I just grab a few bags of different frozen veggies so I can make my own assortment.

Frozen vegetables are great for any level of home cook. They make for a quick side dish to a homemade dinner or a perfect add-in to whatever main you're cooking up.

I prefer to keep a vegetable medley around, which saves room in my small freezer while providing a handful of different veggies to mix into my fried rice or skillet potatoes.

If the store is out of mixed, I just grab a few bags of different frozen veggies so I can make my own assortment.

Soup is so easy to freeze and store.

Soup can be a great last-minute lunch or dinner. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

When I'm feeling sick or I'm too busy to cook, I love having homemade soups in my freezer.

I typically have at least one pint of homemade chicken soup, and I try to save that for the times when I'm not feeling well.

Whenever I make another soup, like potato leek or a thinner veggie-based soup, I make sure I save at least a pint to put in the freezer for a later date. If you freeze it right away, it tastes fresh whenever you decide to thaw it.

When I'm feeling sick or I'm too busy to cook, I love having homemade soups in my freezer.

I typically have at least one pint of homemade chicken soup, and I try to save that for the times when I'm not feeling well.

I always like to have some protein to fall back on, so I make sure I have chicken breast in the freezer at all times.

I prefer to vacuum seal the chicken when I can. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I typically buy a package of chicken breasts at the grocery store or butcher. Then, I freeze them as individual portions so I can defrost as-needed.

There is always shrimp or another type of seafood waiting to be thawed and cooked.

I keep the shrimp in a sealable bag. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Just as I like having chicken on-hand, I love having the option of seafood.

I typically will portion fresh fish and freeze it like I do chicken breasts, but I also think that having a bag of frozen shrimp is super easy to handle.

I take out however many I want at a time — whether that's a handful for a salad topper or a pound for a pasta dish — and leave the rest for later.

Knowing that I have all of these items in my freezer means that on a busy, lazy, icky, or otherwise uninspired day, I can still make a meal for myself that I'll enjoy. And it's my belief that food should always be enjoyed, not simply eaten.