While fresh produce prices can be volatile in the winter, the frozen food aisle offers a stable and often discounted alternative in January. Following the holiday rush, retailers find themselves with surplus inventory of specific frozen categories. Additionally, the industry pushes “New Year” sales to clear out the old year’s stock and capture the health-conscious crowd. This combination of clearance and promotional cycles makes January 2026 the perfect time to stock your freezer with these nine items.
1. Whole Turkeys
The demand for whole turkeys plummets to near zero on December 26th. However, stores often still have frozen birds in the back freezer that need to go. You can find whole frozen turkeys for pennies per pound in January. They are the cheapest source of animal protein available, perfect for roasting on a regular Sunday or breaking down into parts for soups and stews.
2. Puff Pastry and Phyllo Dough
Frozen pastry doughs are essential for holiday appetizers and desserts. Once the party season ends, sales of these items stall. Retailers often mark them down to clear space for standard inventory. Having a box of puff pastry in the freezer allows you to make quick, impressive tarts or pot pies throughout the winter for very little money.
3. Party Appetizers
Bags of frozen meatballs, mozzarella sticks, and mini quiches are heavily stocked for New Year’s Eve. In the first weeks of January, stores are desperate to move this “party food” inventory. Look for deep discounts on these convenience items, which make for easy weekend snacks or quick dinners when you are too tired to cook.
4. Frozen Berries
While fresh berries are expensive and out of season, frozen berries often see sales in January to align with the “smoothie and health” resolution crowd. Retailers promote them as a healthy breakfast staple, often offering coupons or club-card deals that make them significantly cheaper per ounce than their fresh counterparts.
5. Frozen Shrimp
Shrimp rings and bags of raw frozen shrimp are another holiday staple that sees a post-season price drop. High-end seafood is a hard sell in January when everyone is tightening their belts, so retailers lower the price to keep the product moving. It is a great time to buy a bag for a future stir-fry or pasta dish.
6. Steam-in-Bag Vegetables
To capitalize on diet resolutions, brands flood the market with coupons for frozen vegetables in January. While the base price might not drop, the promotional activity is at its peak. You can often stack store sales with manufacturer coupons to get bags of broccoli, cauliflower, and mixed veggies for rock-bottom prices.
7. Pie Crusts
Similar to puff pastry, frozen pie crusts are a holiday-specific item for many shoppers. The surplus inventory from December is often cleared out in January. Buying a two-pack now saves you from paying full price when you want to make a quiche or a chicken pot pie later in the month.
8. Ice Cream
Ice cream sales naturally dip in the coldest months of the year. To keep volumes up, brands run aggressive promotions in January. It is common to see premium pints and gallons at their lowest prices of the year as manufacturers fight for the limited number of shoppers looking for a cold treat in winter.
9. Frozen Bread Dough and Rolls
The convenience of frozen dinner rolls is a major selling point for holiday meals. Post-holiday, these bags of dough take up valuable freezer space that stores need for other items. You can often find them on clearance. They are incredibly versatile and can be used to make cinnamon rolls, pizza dough, or just fresh bread with dinner.
The Freezer Strategy
By targeting these nine items, you can fill your freezer with high-quality ingredients that will last you until spring. It is a strategic way to lower your grocery bill by taking advantage of the seasonal inventory cycle.
What is your favorite frozen food to stock up on? Have you seen cheap turkeys at your store this week? Share your tips!
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