Flavor Cubes 🧊💥

Today’s lesson is 321 words, a 1 min 17 sec reading time. It is the fifth lesson of How to Hack Your Freezer. 📍Introduction: Flavor cubes, also known as “flavor bombs,” are an organized home chef’s secret weapon. These concentrated bursts help you reduce waste & save time by adding a punch of flavor fast. They take little time to prepare and require only an ice cube tray and zip bag to create & store. Feel free to get creative with what you prep, freeze & save for future use. ⚙️ Gear * Ice cube tray * Zip bag (optional) 📝 Notes, Tips & Tricks: * Ice cube trays with lids offer stackability. They also protect the cubes from freezer burn & absorbing smells. * Silicone makes for easier cube popping, but can absorb some smells/flavors (e.g., garlic) * Smaller trays like this one are ideal for highly concentrated flavors (e.g., minced ginger) * Defrosting at room temperature is best (~15 minutes), but you can microwave in a pinch. Check every 15-30 seconds to avoid accidental cooking. 👆 Varieties: * Pesto: Can be used for sandwiches, pasta, dressing veggies & meat, topping a grain bowl * Herb cubes: Dice hearty herbs (e.g., rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage) & cover with olive oil. Alternatively, blend with softened butter for a spin on “compound butter.” * Citrus juice: Lemon, lime, orange & grapefruit make great additions to cocktails, salad dressings, or bubbly water. * Minced garlic/ginger: Great for adding to stir-fries, soups, salad dressing, and dips. You can also buy them pre-made. * Wine: save leftovers for use in sauces & braises * Sauces & fats (leftover): you can save marinades, bacon fat, stir-fry sauce & pan juices for future reuse * Broth/stock: boil it down for extra concentrated, space-saving cubes; adds depth & richness to grains, sauces, sautées, etc. * Coffee: great for keeping iced coffee strong * Fruit purrée: can be used in bellinis or smoothies or eaten like a popsicle. 🎓 Further Study * Cooking with Flavor Bombs [Amazon] * 13 Genius Ways to Use an Ice Cube Tray * Amanda Cohen’s Secret-Weapon Stir-Fry Sauce [NYTimes] * How to Make Frozen Herb Cubes * Herbed Compound Butter [NYTimes] —————————————————— 🗣 Did we miss something? Please tell us in the comments below! 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or Overcast. ☎️ Do you have ideas about how to make Life School better? Sign up here for a 15-min call with Founder & Chief Researcher, Michelle. 📚 Check out more in the Table of Contents This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com