8 Trader Joe’s Freezer Picks That Can Cut Food Waste (and Stretch a Weekly Budget)
When weekly schedules change, so can meal plans. Fresh produce and meat can end up sitting in the refrigerator in lieu of take-out. Throwing away unused food can eventually put a strain on a grocery budget.
Trader Joe’s freezer section offers convenient items that last longer and reduce spoilage. By keeping a few go-to frozen options on hand, you can pivot quickly when plans shift without sacrificing convenience or cost.
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Instead of defaulting to pricey last-minute takeout, these freezer-friendly finds make it easy to put together satisfying meals at home — saving both time and money throughout the week. Check out these freezer staples that are ready in minutes and help stretch your weekly budget.
Verdant Veggie Variety
Price: $1.99
Verdant veggie variety is a unique blend of specially seasoned yellow carrots and beans, peas, green beans, sugar snap peas and kohlrabi. Serve this veggie variety with seafood, chicken, beef or sausage. Because the vegetables are already seasoned and frozen, you can use what you need and save the rest for another meal. It’s also an easy way to bulk up rice, pasta or leftover protein without buying several fresh vegetables that may go bad.
Breaded Chicken Tenderloin Breasts
Price: $8.99
Breaded chicken tenderloin breasts are very versatile. Add to spaghetti, tomato sauce and parmesan cheese for a quick chicken parmesan. For a sweet surprise, serve them on top of waffles and drizzle with maple syrup.
The $8.99 bag can also help cover more than one meal if you use the chicken in smaller portions. Cutting a tenderloin up for salads, pasta or sandwiches can stretch the bag further than serving full pieces as the main dish.
Organic Basmati Rice
Price: $4.99
Serve organic basmati rice as rice pudding with milk, cardamom, sugar, raisins and nuts. Enjoy basmati rice as a pilaf with butter, chives and chicken broth, then season with salt and pepper. Easily substitute basmati rice in any recipe calling for long-grain rice.
At $4.99, frozen rice can help round out meals without extra prep or wasted leftovers. Pair it with frozen vegetables, meatballs or chicken to make a quick meal from ingredients you already have.
Shredded Potato Hash Browns
Price: $2.49
Savor shredded potato hash browns with butter, salt and pepper, or create a hash brown casserole. Bake hash browns in muffin cups along with olive oil, green onions and parmesan cheese for individual crispy hash brown bites.
Hash browns can also make eggs, leftover vegetables or small amounts of meat feel more filling. That makes them a useful freezer item when you’re trying to put together a low-cost breakfast, dinner or casserole.
Roasted Corn
Price: $2.99
Trader Joe's has prepared their roasted corn over an open flame for a unique smoky flavor. What a treat when adding it to chopped tomato, onion and a balsamic vinaigrette for a cold salad.
Combine with green chilis, cream cheese, milk, butter and salt and pepper to make a green chili corn casserole. Since the corn is frozen, you can use a little at a time instead of opening a fresh package or buying ears of corn you may not finish. It can also stretch soups, casseroles, tacos and salads without adding much to the meal cost.
Petite Peas
Price: $1.99
Mix petite peas with chopped carrots, butter, rice and sauteed onion for a delicious side dish. Another idea is to make a cold pea salad with mayo, chopped red bell pepper, celery, sweet relish and cheddar cheese crumbles. Trader Joe's petite peas are another low-cost way to add vegetables to simple meals. Add a small amount to rice, pasta, soup or casseroles, then return the rest to the freezer for later.
Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms
Price: $3.49
These sliced shiitake mushrooms are sliced and ready to go after thawing. For more flavor, try adding them to a salad, eggs, stir-fries and pasta dishes. Frozen mushrooms can be especially helpful because fresh mushrooms often spoil quickly. To avoid any waste, only use them as needed.
Italian-Style Meatballs
Price: $6.49
Trader Joe’s Italian style meatballs make a great choice for meatball sub sandwiches with a tangy tomato sauce and mozzarella or parmesan cheese. Slice or portion a few meatballs to help stretch the $6.49 bag across several meals. For more protein, add them to pasta, pizza, subs or cheesy garlic bread.
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Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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