1. EGGS Lightly beaten eggs, beaten yolks, or whites can be frozen, but not an egg in its shell. Store in lidded ice cube trays. (One egg fills two cubes.)
2. COOKED RICE Spread cooled rice on a lined baking sheet Rub with a small amount of vegetable oil so grains separate. Freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag.
3. GINGER ROOT Wrap peeled ginger in plastic, then put in freezer bag. Ginger grates well while still frozen.
4. CHEESE Cut hard (Parmesan, pecorino) and semi-hard cheeses (cheddar, Swiss) into ix4-inch blocks, wrap in plastic, then put in a freezer bag. Grate hard cheeses while frozen; thaw others in the refrigerator.
5. BUTTER or MARGARINE Store in a freezer bag, in its original packaging, for up to six months. Thaw in the refrigerator. Dont freeze whipped butter.
6. NUTS Store in airtight container or freezer bag for up to six weeks. Use right from the freezer for recipes—no need to thaw.