Freezer cooking is a great way not only to preserve food but to buy yourself some time. You save money as well when you bulk buy and cook in bulk. Wondering what can you freeze? Here’s a starting list as well as 50 freezer-friendly recipes.
Often when people hear the words, freezer cooking, they imagine a cold, hard slab of a casserole covered in ice crystals. Ick. Makes freezer cooking sound unappealing, doesn’t it?
Or they think about spending days in the kitchen cooking meals for a month.
And I get that. Back in the days, those images weren’t too far from the truth. Traditionally freezer meals were casseroles or consisted of a base of canned cream soup. And to practice freezer cooking meant a day of shopping and planning and at least two more sweating by the stove.
That’s so not the case any longer.
As the internet has grown up and we’ve swapped ideas more quickly, freezer cooking has evolved. You’re not limited to casseroles and creamed soup concoctions any more!
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Freezer Cooking FAQ
As we enter a month of freezer coking I want to tackle some basic freezer cooking questions.
Do you have to cook a full meal to freeze?
While it’s nice to have a pan of enchiladas or a lasagna all ready to go in the oven, freezer meals don’t have to be complete meals. In fact, meal components and meal kits are great ways to transform your favorite dishes into freezer meals.
How do you know what you can freeze?
Just think through your favorite recipes. What can you do in advance without loss of texture or taste?
I have experimented with meals such as Peanut Butter Chicken and found ways to make parts of it ahead of time. I cook the chicken and veggies, cool and wrap, package the sauce separately, and make sure that I have noodles in the pantry to cook on the day of serving. Then I can assemble the meal quite quickly without having to chop, shred, dice, or mix, saving myself a ton of time and energy.
What if you’re not sure it will freeze well?
If you’re not sure something will freeze, test it out next time you serve it for dinner. Freeze a portion size before or after cooking. Then try it a few days later. If it tastes good, you know it will freeze well.
You’d be pleasantly surprised by what you can cook and freeze for later. I love casseroles with the best of them, but you don’t have to limit your big batch cooking to just 9×13 inch pans. The following is a list of what I’ve found that freezes well. It’s not an exhaustive list. There’s more that I haven’t yet discovered. Your options are almost limitless!
Freezer Cooking: What Can You Freeze and Still Enjoy?
Cooked/uncooked proteins
- meatloaf – I like to mix and form the loaf, wrap in foil, stash in a freezer bag and freeze prior to baking. I think it tastes fresher this way. Here’s my favorite recipe.
- meatballs – Use the same meat mix that you use for meatloaves, form the balls, bake them in the oven and then freeze family-size portions in freezer bags. Later you can turn them into Swedish Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Boules de Picolat.
- hamburger patties – Flash freeze uncooked patties on a plastic-lined cookie sheet. Once patties are frozen, place in a freezer bag. See the full method here.
- seasoned ground beef – Cool the cooked meat and store in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Incorporate later into tacos, chili, casseroles, nachos, burritos, and chimichangas.
- meat and chicken in marinades – Place uncooked meats in freezer bag or freezer-safe container with marinade. Thaw in a dish in the refrigerator and cook as you normally would, right before serving. Here’s the full tutorial.
- meat and chicken pre-sliced for stir fry – Store in freezer bag or freezer-safe container. You can even make freezer meal kits for stirfry.
- cooked chicken – Seal securely in a freezer bag and use later in chicken salad, soft tacos, burritos, nachos, Asian dishes, soup, and sandwich fillings.
- carnitas and shredded beef or pork – Store cooked meat in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. Use in tacos, burritos, nachos, soup, and BBQ sandwiches.
Complete main dishes
- casseroles and lasagnas – I use my regular baking pans, cover with a sheet of aluminum foil and then place in a freezer bag. If I don’t have a big enough freezer bag, I double wrap it with heavy-duty aluminum foil that I reuse over time.
- chimichangas – Prepare burritos or griddle-crisped chimichangas, cool completely and seal in freezer bags. Wrap in plastic wrap first if you’ll be stashing these in lunch boxes.
- tamales – Leave steamed tamales in their cornhusk wrappings. Seal well in a freezer bag. Resteam right before serving. This recipe for tamales is super easy!
- taquitos – Flash freeze on cookie sheets then stash in a freezer bag. Bake frozen. Get the recipe for Beef Taquitos.
- stews, soups, and chilis – Cool and freeze in freezer-safe containers. Consider making portion-size containers as well for quick lunches and snacks.
- quiche – Freeze before you bake them. Then bake from frozen. Check out these quiche recipe basics.
Meal kits
- taco kits – precook the meat and package it up in a freezer-safe container with bags of cheese and tortillas alongside.
- pizza kits – prepare the dough and bag it up in a greased freezer bag before the second rise. Bag up the sauce and toppings in separate bags and collect them all in a larger bag or container to store in the freezer. Thaw the dough in a greased bowl overnight before baking.
Meal components
- pasta sauce – Cook up a big batch of sauce, with or without meat, in freezer-safe container.
- cooked beans – Prep a big batch of dried beans and store 2 cup portions in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. 2 cups is just about the size of a can of beans. Perfect for all your favorite recipes.
- baked goods – Cool completely and wrap in plastic wrap or ziptop bags.
- unbaked baked goods – You can freeze unbaked scones and rolls so that you can have fresh baked goodies in the morning without the hassle. These butterhorns are great this way, as are these scones.
- unbaked pies – It’s so nice to have fresh baked pie without the work! They don’t even need to thaw before baking them.
- cheese – You can freeze goat cheese as well as freeze cheese that has been shredded.
What You Can’t Freeze
There are some things that are better left unfrozen. Here’s my short list:
- white potatoes – These generally discolor and lose texture. Try this recipe for mashed potatoes that really works for me. Here are some other important things to note about freezing potatoes.
- certain recipes containing mayo – The mayonnaise can tend to separate, but I’ve never worried about it too much
- lettuce/salad and veggies to use in fresh applications – Sog City, baby. ‘nuf said.
50 Freezer-friendly Recipes
Chicken Tikka Masala
This Indian recipe comes together super quickly making it an easy meal to double and freeze half.
To freeze: Leave off the cream, divide into freezer-safe dishes, chill completely, and freeze.
Chicken Street Tacos
Taco night will come together lickety-split with the chicken filling already made.
To freeze: Prep the chicken as directed, divide into freezer-safe dishes, chill completely, and freeze.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
This Enchilada Casserole is ultimate comfort food!
To freeze: Prepare as directed, but do not bake. Wrap well, chill, and freeze. Thaw completely prior to baking for best results.
Chicken Bacon Subs for the Freezer
Sandwiches for freezing? You betcha!
To freeze: Chill the fillings prior to assembly, assemble the sandwiches, wrap, label, and freeze. Thaw completely prior to baking for best results.
Chicken Fajita Burritos that You Can Freeze
Make your own freezer burritos for delicious ease!
To freeze: Chill the fillings prior to assembly, assemble the burritos, wrap, label, and freeze.
Chicken and Wild Rice Bake
This comforting chicken and rice casserole is made-ahead as a kit!
To freeze: marinate the chicken in one freezer-safe container. Assemble the vegetables in another; the rice in a third. Store the three together in the freezer. Thaw the chicken and assemble the casserole when ready to serve.
BBQ Chicken Pizza with Bacon & Pineapple
Pizza kits are a great way to enjoy a homemade pizza night without a lot of last-minute fuss.
Assemble the dough and toppings in separate freezer-safe bags or containers. Collect them all in one larger bag and store in the freezer. Thaw the dough in a greased bowl overnight in the fridge. Assemble and bake!
Easy Chicken and Cheese Flautas
Flautas, a cousin of the taquito, is a fun freezer meal!
To freeze: prepare flautas as recipe directs, but do not bake. Freeze on a tray until firm and then collect in a freezer-safe container. Bake from frozen when ready to serve.
Easy Chicken Strips for the Freezer
Having precooked chicken on hand makes for easy sandwiches, salads, and burrito fillings.
To freeze: cook chicken, chill, slice, and freeze on lined tray until firm. Store in a freezer bag until ready to serve.
Easy Chicken Fajitas
Fajitas will come together quickly and easily with a fajita kit!
To freeze: slice and marinate chicken in one freezer bag. Assemble sliced peppers and onion in a second bag. Store the two bags and a bag of tortillas in a larger, third bag.
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Enchiladas are so delicious. Made even better when they're already made in the freezer.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Simple Chicken Stir-fry with Vegetables
Take-out fake-out is just minutes away when you've got a stir-fry kit in the freezer.
To freeze: Assemble bags of veggies, chicken, and sauce ingredients in one larger freezer bag. Thaw the chicken prior to cooking.
Creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shells are easy to make and are such a hearty make-ahead meal.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Grilled Chicken for the Freezer
Grill extra chicken this week and store the leftover in the freezer for easy meals in the weeks to come.
To freeze: cook chicken, chill, slice, and freeze on lined tray until firm. Store in a freezer bag until ready to serve.
Homemade Chicken Enchiladas with Roasted Chiles
Loaded with shredded chicken and roasted chiles, these enchiladas are both hearty and flavorful.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Homemade Chicken Curry Casserole Even Better than Your Mom's
Chicken Curry Casserole is such a comfort! Why not make an extra to freeze for later.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe (Freezer-Friendly)
Those little frozen pies can't shake a stick at this proper full-size pie.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. Do not thaw; bake from frozen according to recipe directions.
Tandoori Chicken Marinade Recipe
This flavorful marinade infuses chicken with rich, Tandoori spices. Make many batches at once for easy grill nights.
To freeze: assemble the marinade and chicken pieces in a freezer bag. For best results, thaw completely before grilling.
The Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole You'll Want on Repeat
This enchilada casserole comes together in minutes and is packed with flavor.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
5-Minute Asian Chicken Marinade Recipe ($1.55/batch)
Asian Chicken is delicious grilled or sauteed for bowls, salads, and wraps.
To freeze: assemble the marinade and chicken pieces in a freezer bag. For best results, thaw completely before grilling.
Beef Taquitos
Homemade taquitos? Yes, please!
To freeze: prepare taquitos as recipe directs, but do not bake. Freeze on a tray until firm and then collect in a freezer-safe container. Bake from frozen when ready to serve.
Spicy Beef & Bean Stew Recipe
This stew is spicy and dotted with chunks of tender beef and beans. So good!
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Shredded Beef Filling for Tacos, Burritos, Sandwiches, and More
Taco night comes together in a flash when you've got the filling already to go!
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Guinness Beef Stew
Stew is super comfort food that practically cooks itself in the crockpot!
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Barbacoa Beef for Tacos, Lettuce Wraps, Bowls, & Burritos
Rich and savory, this Barbacoa Beef is delicious in tacos, wraps, bowls, and burritos.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Hot Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe
Make a sandwich kit for a quick dinner of Hot Italian Beef Sandwiches.
To freeze: prepare the meat according to the recipe, spoon filling and drippings into a freezer-safe container. Chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze alongside a bag of rolls and a bag of veggies that you sautee right before serving.
Slow Cooker Beef Ragu with Mushrooms and Peppers
This beef ragu is delicious for topping pasta.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Mushrooms and Olives
Tender beef chunks in a savory gravy, dotted with mushrooms and olives, this stew feels special without a lot of work.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Red Burritos with Beef and Beans
These red burritos are hearty and delicious.
To freeze: Chill the fillings prior to assembly, assemble the burritos, wrap, label, and freeze.
Rock Taco Night with this Salsa Verde Beef (Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Methods)
This Salsa Verde Beef is absolutely packed with flavor!
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
How to Make Lawnmower Taco (VIDEO)
Tacos that got caught in a Lawnmower? Your picky eater will be intrigued.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Catalan Meatballs: Boules de Picolat
A tradition in Catalan, Boules de Picolat are served over potatoes or rice.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Meatball Sub Recipe (with a Freezer Option)
Meatballs subs are super easy to pull together so why not freeze extra for later.
To freeze: prepare the meatballs according to the recipe. Chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze alongside a bag of garlic-buttered rolls, a bag of cheese, and a container of sauce
Hearty Gluten Free Meatballs
Meatballs are such a versatile protein: serve them with pasta, over mashed potatoes with gravy, with BBQ sauce on sliders, etc.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Versatile Meat Mixture
Get a two-for-one with this versatile meat mixture that makes meatballs and meatloaves.
To freeze: prepare the meatballs according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze. For the meatloaves, form the loaves but do not bake. Wrap, label, and freeze. Thaw completely before baking.
Slow Cooked Sweet and Sour Meatballs
These sweet and sour meatballs can be made as a kit or as a complete meal that just needs reheating.
To freeze as a kit: Place the meatballs in one bag, the pineapple in another. Saute the vegetables and chill them before adding them to a third bag along with the other sauce ingredients. Store all three bags together in the freezer. Assemble in the crockpot, adding the cornstarch at the very end of cooking as directed in the recipe.
Pork Carnitas Tacos
Carnitas Tacos are super delicious and filling. Make a double batch and freeze extra for later.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Dijon Pork Tenderloin
Spicy and tangy, this Dijon Pork Tenderloin makes for a super simple meal with little prep.
To freeze: assemble the marinade and pork in a freezer bag. For best results, thaw completely before grilling.
Spicy Pork Chili with Pumpkin
Pumpkin adds rich flavor to this spicy pork chili.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with a Homemade Spice Rub
Grilled pork tenderloin is great on its own or as a filling for sandwiches.
To freeze: assemble the spices in a small bag and package with the wrapped pork in a freezer bag. For best results, thaw completely before grilling.
Easy Slow Cooker Pork Tacos
Make a double batch of this pork taco filling so that taco nights are easy peasy.
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Grilled Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (84 cents/serving)
This is one of the easiest ways to prepare pork chops that are packed with flavor.
To freeze: assemble the marinade and pork chops in a freezer bag. For best results, thaw completely before grilling.
Best Ever Slow Cooker Pulled Pork [VIDEO]
We don't exaggerate when we call this the BEST pulled pork ever. Try it and see!
To freeze: prepare according to the recipe, chill completely, wrap, label, and freeze.
Ham and Gruyere Quiche with Leeks
Quiche is both elegant and easy, making for a tasty breakfast, lunch, or supper.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. Do not thaw; bake from frozen.
Ham and Swiss Sliders (Freezer-Friendly)
These ham and swiss sliders are simple and delicious, making a stop at the sandwich shop a thing of the past.
To freeze: Chill the fillings prior to assembly, assemble the sandwiches, wrap, label, and freeze. Thaw completely prior to baking for best results.
Sausage Noodle Casserole, like Mac & Cheese, but Better
This sausage noodle casserole is like your favorite mac and cheese -- but better.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Sausage Egg Hash Brown Casserole (87 cents/serving)
Hearty and flavorful, this make-ahead egg dish is super simple!
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Spicy Sausage Lasagna with Mushrooms and Peppers
This is not your freezer section's frozen lasagna. So much better than anything you'd buy in the store, this dish is simple to make in bulk.
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Cheesy Sausage Enchiladas
Spicy sausage and gooey cheese wrapped in corn tortillas? What's not to love?
To freeze: assemble according to the recipe, but do not bake. Wrap well and freeze. For best results, thaw completely before baking.
Cheesy Italian Sausage and Pepper Sandwiches
Sandwich night is simple and delicious when you've got these Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches all ready to go!
To freeze: Chill the fillings prior to assembly, assemble the sandwiches, wrap, label, and freeze. Thaw completely prior to baking for best results.
What do you freeze to enjoy later?
This post was originally published November 28, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Emily
I like to freeze chicken stock, soups of all kind, chili (both bean in and no bean), and strattas. Also diced peppers, onion, tomatoes, and celery all ready to be used in some dish or another.
Jessica Fisher
Those are great things to keep on hand in the freezer!
Randi
Hi Jessica! I’m planning for preparing various freezer meals for when the new baby is here in September. A lot of crock pot meals have instructions for things to add on the day of cooking. Things like milk and yogurt or sour cream, etc. Would it really be so terrible to add those things to the bags during prep day to freeze and cook them with everything later? I understand things like noodles and rice and certain veggies should be added later on, but I’m wondering what you think of freezing the liquids with the prep? Thanks a lot!
Jessica Fisher
Congratulations on the new baby! You are a wise mama to start stocking the freezer. I would caution you about the crock pot dump meals. Some of them really are “too good to be true”. Read this post if you haven’t already.
As for the yogurt and sour cream…. you run the risk of those ingredients curdling in the slow cooker. That’s why it’s recommended that you not add them until the end.
Randi
Thankyou so much for your reply and that post! It makes so much sense about the dairy curdling too! And I find it funnily ironic you and others feel this way about the crock pot dump meals- because I have really been struggling to find recipes that sound appealing and are nutritionally complete! It really is too good to be true! Thankyou again, I’ve really enjoyed your website and I’ve added your cook book to my amazon cart! Looking forward to stocking the freezer some more!
Jessica Fisher
My pleasure. Let me know how else I can help! We’re going to be working on kitchen automation and freezer cooking in the new Mom’s Kitchen Survival Workshop. I’d love for you to join us!
A.J. From the Windy City
I make a crab salad with imitation crab meat , elbow macaroni, shredded raw cabbage, shredded raw carrots, miracle whip and I think I want to add some shrimps to it this time as well. What I want to know will I be able to freeze some of that by using my food saver and freeze it in portions with the miracle whip, the shredded raw cabbage and carrots? Please help me out with this dilima I would deeply appreciate the help and advice
Jessica Fisher
In my experience these items are not freezer-friendly for your purposes. Yes, you can freeze the crab and shrimp, but unless you want a very soft texture to the noodles, cabbage, and carrots, I would not recommend it. Miracle whip is known to separate when freezing. Sorry I can’t offer better news.
A.J. From the Windy City
I have this crab salad that I make and everyone that tastes it loves it. I use imitation crab meat, shredded raw cabbage, shredded raw carrots, miracle whip, cooked elbow macaroni and I think I am going to add some cooked shrimps to it this time. What I’m worried about is how the cabbage, the carrots and miracle whip will freeze if I packaged it in portion and freeze the portions with my food saver. Can u please help me out with the dilemma, would appreciate it very much, thank you.
A.J. From the Windy City
Even tho I use my vacuum sealer to freeze the salad you would still think the same, because the reason why I’m asking is because I had made a big bowl one time and shared it with friends, family and neighbor and it was about a month later when I saw my neighbor and asked what he was eating and was told that he was eating some of the salad that I had given to him a month ago and I asked him did u have that in your refrigerator for that length of time and he told me no and that all he couldn’t eat he had froze it , I looked at it and it still looked like the salad that I had given him.
Jessica Fisher
Then I would definitely try it with a small portion next time you make it! That’s pretty amazing.
As for food safety, it won’t “go bad” if it’s frozen. Like it won’t be unsafe, it just might lose texture. Go for it! Report back though so we can learn, too! 🙂
jody
You had me at ‘and still enjoy’. This newly rediscovered home-ec skill really appeals to me now that I would rather be doing other things than cooking or worrying about having to run to the store for the one ingredient that I don’t have. It saves money and it circulates the food in the pantry and at the back of the freezer so it is a win-win-win, lol. Simplification is for me and this is the key. I have practiced all of your tips for ages now..and they are tried and true, they WORK. I freeze so many things now: parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, flour, flax seed…even my herbs from the garden…I just put olive oil in a small ice cube tray, put my crushed basil, rosemary or whatever else I have in, label them, double wrap it before sliding it into a zip lock freezer bag. One thing I am going to try this week is using a larger (12 qt) plastic storage container with lid to store all of my flat zip lock storage bags. I am finding that many bags tend to slip and slide around too much. Thanks for your helpful article I am happy that people like you take the time and trouble to blog about these things that make our lives easier.
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for chiming in, Jody! I’m glad you’re seeing success!
Sharon
Has anyone tried freezing baked beans? How’d they turn out?
Jessica Fisher
I’ve had no trouble freezing baked beans.
Chelsea
Hi Jessica,
I’ve just started getting more adventurous with freezer cooking (my husband is VERY picky- but he LOVED your lasagna). My grandma passed down a recipe for “taco pie” that my family likes. Basically, it’s baked biscuit dough with taco meat and cheese on top served with veggies and sour cream. Do you think this could be frozen? How would you do it?
Thanks!
Chelsea
Jessica Fisher
I would probably make that taco pie as a kit. Cook the meat and package it separately from the cheese. Is the biscuit baked before you top it or after? If before, you could bake, cool, and freeze. And then assemble everything at serving to bake again. If your layers were all chilled, you could assemble and then freeze. Hope that makes sense.
Chelsea
Thanks for the reply. The biscuit dough is baked prior to adding layers, so I followed your advice and shilled each layer separately and then assembled them cold and froze it. I waited about 2 weeks before thawing and reheating and it was still delicious. . . I never would have known it was previously frozen!
I’ve been reading your posts for awhile now, and I had started freezer-cooking when I was working full-time, but after I switched to part-time, I quit. Now, I’ve rediscovered it, and my family is enjoying home-cooked meals again. So far, we’ve tried red sauce, lasagna, meatloaf, your taco seasoning, and chihuahua chili. (Neither my husband nor I like beans, so the chili was not a hit in my house, but it went over well with the unmarried uncle that I gifted it to!) Next week, we’re trying shrimp tacos!
Thank you for the inspiration to plan my meals ahead of time. My grocery shopping has become much faster and less stressful. In addition, I can serve dinner about an hour earlier now!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! I’m so glad it worked. Happy dance over here.
Chelsea
I have a new question, so I’m starting a new thread:)
How do you thaw frozen bread in a way that doesn’t mess with the texture? My family is small (myself, hubby, and 2 year old), so I almost always have leftovers. We don’t eat a ton of bread, but hubby likes buns for hot dogs and burgers (I eat mine without the bread). We almost never eat a whole package of buns or rolls before they get moldy on the counter. When I freeze them however, they tend to get soggy during thawing. Any advice on how to avoid this? I tried reheating them straight from frozen (like store-bought frozen garlic bread- you don’t thaw before heating), but they got dried out.
Thanks for your insight!
Jessica Fisher
I’m guessing that your bread has a lot of moisture in the bag when it gets frozen or the freezer door is opened frequently. Do you live where it’s humid?
One thing you might try is to lay the frozen slices out on paper toweling for about 20 minutes before serving. We do that when we’re in a hurry and it seems to help.
Chelsea
I live in Ohio, not especially humid, but my daughter has seasonal allergies, so we tend to keep humidifiers going in the house. My kitchen tends to be extra humid, especially if I’ve been cooking! I will make conscious thought to package them after the steam has cleared from any cooking, and I’ll suck the air out.
Thanks!
Jessica Fisher
Sounds like a good plan. I think the humidity is probably at play.
Cindy
My husband put a jar of green olive in the freezer, can we eat them?
Jessica Fisher
I would think so? As long as the glass didn’t shatter, they should be fine. The texture might be funky.
Terri
Can you freeze dishes (I’m thinking about cooked beef stew) made with beef that was previously frozen? I grew up being told once it was thawed, it can’t be frozen again.
Jessica Fisher
That rule is mainly in the case of an accidental thawing of the freezer and folks would refreeze the raw meat. If the food was kept at safe storage levels during freezing and thawing, it’s fine to refreeze cooked beef.
Kristy
We have a baking business out of our house. We freeze our cookie dough and butter. Butter goes on super sale after Christmas so we load up our freezer.
I’ve recently had great luck with freezing potatoes. I also blanch & freeze jalapeños. I blanched them first. I’m trying my hand at blanching & freezing fresh basil. It darkened up after blanching but if I use it in cooking, I don’t think it will matter.
Other things I freeze:
chopped onions
corn
left over stock/broth
left over tomato paste
marinades
raw & cooked meats
homemade sauces
Elizabeth
Hi,
love your posts im new!
well i have been about 3weeks in to freezing and i dont want to go back!
On Sunday i will make chicken in salsa,2x turkey ground( for spaggetti & rice
make another chicken in salsa but strip it and make rice and veg,2 cups chedder.
Steak in salsa,pork in salsa. DONE!!!!7-8 DAYS OFF JUST HEATING UP! LOVE IT
Just to share:
When i say “salsa” this consists of garlic,green pepper,onion sautauted in oil.i always add cumin and oregano add meat brown, add hunts/ragu whatever u like then white dry wine and boil/cook till done, always leave a little liquid to wet the rice. My hubby hates white dry rice
food for my cuban husband done! yummy!
Maya Andrews
It must been in another freezer post I saw you say you didn’t like raw onions in freezer to crock pot meals. I was thinking of making some marinade chicken recipes and adding carrots and onions and maybe celery. Do you not like how the vegetables turn out when frozen then slow cooked?
Jessica Fisher
Common practice dictates that a lot of vegetables should be blanched before freezing. In other instances, onions and celery (I think) should be sautéed before adding to a braise (or slow cooker). It’s a texture preference, really. I have a few freezer slow cooker recipes, but I sauté first, cool, and then add it to the bag.
Maya Andrews
Thanks so much for answering right away. I plan to make a bunch of meals today. I might try one with raw vegetables and another with cooked. I might not mind the consistency bc I make slow cooker meal that I add raw onion (and carrots and potatoes) already.
Jessica Fisher
Let me know how it turns out for you.
Holly
I “flash” freeze lasagna in a Demarle silicone pan; when it’s frozen I peel off the pan and wrap the lasagna in foil. When I want to serve it for dinner, I reserve the process. This way I don’t tie up any pans in my freezer.
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
I cook lots of bean from scratch and freeze them in separate baggies. I also make leftover rice to freeze for fried rice. When I have extra onions, peppers, zucchini, etc., I freeze those as well. It makes cooking quicker when I can grab a bag of an already chopped veggie. I also freeze sliced homemade bread for toast, homemade hamburger buns, and cookie dough. Thanks for the great list. Freezing stuff ahead of time is a great time saver as it really doesn’t take much more time to make a little extra to save for later.
Janet
Quick breads and muffins freeze well. Thaw on the counter the night before and the next morning they are ready to slice and eat. Add a glass of milk and piece of fruit and breakfast is on the table in minutes. I also freeze pancakes and waffles so the kids can take one or two out and defrost in the toaster for a quick, hot breakfast. I poach chicken in large batches. Once it’s cooled, I cube some and shred some and freeze in recipe size servings. I also cook large pork loins and beef roasts in the crockpot. The day I cook the roasts we eat a portion for a meal and the rest is cooled and frozen for future meals. I freeze raw bacon both in slices (good for when you need just a slice or two for a sandwich) and diced for recipes. I do not like the texture if cooked first and then frozen. I make large batches of cookies and freeze a dozen per package for an easy dessert. I also freeze pizza sauce, meat sauce, and marinara. Butter freezes very well so I stock up when it is on sale. I rarely freeze complete meals. Instead I freeze components in recipe size containers.