Cooking and shopping for two can be a challenge when many things are sold in larger quantities. And if you find a deal on something like bacon, you don’t want to freeze it and then have to thaw a whole pound when you need only a couple strips. The best thing to do is to portion bulk foods out in amounts you typically use and freeze them. Taking a few extra minutes at the beginning can save you lots of money in the end. Here’s what I do when I buy bacon, chicken thighs and pork loin:
Bacon: Portion out four strips of bacon and cut them in half or fold the strips over. Place on a plate and freeze until solid. Place the frozen portions in a freezer bag — I have done eight in a gallon-size bag. When freezing bacon this way, you can take out only what you need.
Chicken thighs: Place three chicken thighs side by side in the bottom of a freezer bag. Place another three thighs in the bag a few inches up from the first three, leaving a gap. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Fold the bag at the gap and freeze.
Pork loin: At club stores, pork loin is often a good price, but huge in size. Cut the loin into individual chops, about 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick. Freeze these on a plate until they’re almost frozen. Transfer to a freezer bag. Now they are individual chops that won’t stick together.
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