
Christmas lunches and dinners are an extra concern when it is up to us to make the purchase of the products. Concern to think about the menu and double concern to get good products without paying exorbitant prices (something that seems almost impossible at this time). However, there are some tricks to not leave a kidney in the purchase and save without giving up good dishes, with good food and, above all, quality. Knowing how to choose what type of ingredients you can buy with time and freezing the foods that admit it will be one of your best alternatives. In Diario Femenino we tell you which Christmas meals can be frozen. Buy earlier and save more on your Christmas menu!
What can I freeze before the Christmas meal?
+Seafood
One of the star products of Christmas is, without a doubt, seafood. As it is the most demanded, its price is multiplied by double or triple its value on these dates, so the sooner you buy it, the more you will save. We are talking about spider crabs, crabs, oxen, crabs, nécoras or lobsters that you can leave cooked and prepared and not worry about them until Christmas Day. You just have to keep in mind that you must cook them well, with water and salt, let them cool and once cold, freeze them with transparent film in the freezer until the holiday itself, which we will remove and let thaw at room temperature.
With regard to prawns, prawns, shrimp and seafood of this type, it is recommended to freeze them raw, uncooked, and remove them with enough time so that they thaw at cold temperature and we can cook them quietly. Finally, you should keep in mind that freezing in clams, barnacles, razor clams and cockles is not recommended.
+Fish
Another of the great expected at Christmas dinner is fish. No matter the type: from monkfish or sea bream to hake or turbot. Like seafood, it is a product that multiplies its price as the dates are approaching.
In addition, there is another reason why it is more than advisable to freeze the fish with time. Surely you have heard of anisakis: a parasite that lives in fresh fish and survives high temperatures, so we will only get rid of it by freezing the fish. These two reasons are enough for you to get this product in advance, clean it well, wash it, dry it and prepare it in pieces (or as it will be presented in the recipe) and freeze it. Put it in freezer bags and thaw it to cold temperature (in the fridge) with enough time to cook it completely thawed.
+Sausages
The sausages are usually other great protagonists as starters. However, it is important to note that it is not advisable to freeze them, as we will spoil their flavor. Yes it can be a small solution if we have a pregnant woman among the guests. Freezing the sausage at 20 ºC below zero for 2 days or 10ºC below zero for 3 days ends toxoplasma, so it can be a solution to not leave pregnant women out of dinner.
+Meat
If in your dinner or Christmas lunch you are going to put any type of meat you can start buying it now. Whether they are whole legs, suckling pigs, chops or steaks, the biggest problem you can encounter is the place in the freezer, but nothing more! Don’t let it be a problem. Place them on trays or in freezer bags so that, when you take it out, just let it thaw cold and start cooking.
- You can also read: “Recipes to take advantage of Christmas Eve leftovers at Christmas lunch”
General tips for making the Christmas shopping in advance and keeping it perfect
When freezing various foods, do it separately and individually. If you decide to buy lamb shoulders, wrap them with plastic wrap and store them horizontally inside the freezer itself. In the case of fish, clean them well and put them under the stream of water to prevent them from drying out in the freezer. Then you can wrap them in plastic wrap and keep them until lunch or dinner.
If you decide to make some meat, in case they are pieces, you can chop them and put them in small bags inside the freezer. If, on the other hand, they are sirloin fillets, you can place them on trays so that when cooking they are perfectly smooth and not folded.
When you take food out of the freezer for cooking, it’s a good idea to thaw it in the fridge. That is why it is good that you take them out 24 hours before cooking, since in this way they will be perfectly thawed and will retain all their nutrients. With these tips you will not have too many problems when it comes to freezing the genre you want and enjoying all its flavor and texture.
And you? Was this article useful? Are you one of those who buy Christmas meals well in advance to save? Leave us your comments, we read you!