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.
FishMama
Kelly, I don't think there's a rhyme or reason to that. I try to thaw most things, but NOT pot pies. Cook those frozen. If something is icy, I usu add time and check frequently. Sorry I can't be more help!
TJWriter
Vicky,
I make lots of Italian Beef with our roast and experiment with lots of different marinades for steak. We are blessed to have a grocery that offers amazing deals on meats a few times a years, so we stock up.
I also tried a Butter Beef recipe that the husband enjoyed, but I didn't care for.
And try roast cooked with vermouth or dark beer. The flavor is so different and wonderful.
I stock up anytime I find shredded cheese on sale and freeze it.
JoubertCG
You can freeze egg rolls as well.
angie_tn_us
Vicky —
If you ever buy 1/2 a cow again, have your roast ground up and put in the hamburger meat. You will get more hamburger and less of what you don't eat.
Candi or anyone else —
My recipe for freezer slaw. I don't think it has a bad texture. We eat lots of it! I freeze it when the garden is in with cabbage from our garden.
Freezer Slaw
1 gallon chopped cabbage
1 tbsp salt
2 chopped carrots
1 c sweet peppers
1 tsp celery seed
2 cup sugar
1 c vinegar
½ c water
Mix sugar, vinegar, and water. Boil for 1 ½ minutes. Let cool. Mix cabbage and salt. Let stand 30 mins. Add carrots, sweet pepper, and celery seed. Pour over vegetable mixture. Let set 30 min. Pack and freeze
Kelly
Any advice on defrosting? Or adjusting cooking temps/times to adjust for freezing? I seem to have a hard time (particularly with casseroles and pasta dishes like lasagna) getting them cooked all the way through after freezing even when refrigerating for a day before.
Tammy Hall
I do ALOT of freezing, and most of my recipes I got specifically to make more than 1 casserole ata timeso I can eat one and freeze the other for later. Almost all of them say to thaw for 30 minutes or so before cooking. Hope that helps.
Jessica Morris
I make breakfast burritos and freeze them. They have egg in them, which sounds gross to freeze, but they heat up just fine and taste really good!
Candi
I freeze fresh picked berries on a cookie sheet and then put them in a freezer storage baggie. I also store our nuts in the freezer. I have a recipe for Freezer Apple Pie, it's really good. And also I've made Freezer Cole Slaw. It takes like cole slaw only it has the texture of sauerkraut. A little disconcerting at first but I'm the only one in our house that likes cole slaw so this makes it possible for me to enjoy it on my BBQ sandwiches and hotdogs.
Twinsmom
Pie kits freeze well. I have several apple pie and pumpkin pie kits in the freezer right now. You may have to adjust the liquid amount in the recipe to allow for thawing, but I've never had a problem with texture when baking.+
FishMama
Great feedback, everybody! You all brought up excellent points.
When I freeze cream cheese, we still use it on bagels and in lasagna without a problem.
Claire, if you just have a refrigerator freezer, I wouldn't go more than 2 months. You can go longer in a deep freeze.
Vicky, I'm going to be doing a lot of beef dishes this week as I got a great deal on ground beef and chuck roast…. taco fillings (gr and shredded), ragu, pasta sauce, taquitos, tamales, etc. Stay tuned.
Mandi, I had heard of this, but never tried it. Thanks for bringing up a great point.
Mandi @ Organizing Your Way
I love to freeze PB&J sandwiches for those days when the baby is screaming, the kids are grumpy and I'm feeling frazzled (lunchtime is always the hardest part of the day for me). The key is to put a thin coat of peanut butter on BOTH pieces of bread and then spread the jelly on top.
Vicky
Those carnitas look awesome!
I am so tempted to get back into freezer cooking now that my baby is 1. My 3 year old could even "help" with some things if I'm brave, LOL! 🙂
My dilemma (if you can call it that) is that we were blessed to purchase 1/2 a cow from the neighbor across the road. It is taking us FOREVER to go through all this meat! Ground beef is one thing, but the steaks and roasts last much longer.
Any ideas for what to do with roasts, besides, well, just making roast beef? DH and I both grew up eating way too much beef roast, so that's off our list! 🙂
Looking forward to Tuesday!
Lerin
@Vicky, We do this as well, and I like to use the different cuts for swiss steak, steak sandwiches, beef and noodles, beef stews/soups, fajitas, steak salads, italian beef, pot roast, steak bites, beef and veggie skewers, beef sandwich spread (it’s kind of like a chicken salad but uses beef and it’s REALLY good.) etc.
Amanda Williams
Hi! As far as beef roasts, put one in your crockpot, pour over 1 large can of beef broth. (You can get a flavored can if you want.) Then dump in one package of aujus (dry packet found with other mccormick seasoning packets) one dry packed of zesty italian seasoning, and let cook for 8 hours, or all day! The roast will fall apart, and should be fork tender. We put it on hoagie buns and have french dip sandwiches and use the leftover juices for aujus “dipping” sauce. 🙂 It is SO good, and I take this meal to many people for church and they always want the recipe! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Dawn
You could can it. It’s wonderful – falls apart, it’s so tender. My parents used to can meat & I just did it for my first time. I cut the roast into 1-2″ cubes and raw packed it into hot jars, and sealed with 2-piece lids. You don’t need to add any water to the jars – the meat will make it’s own. (I was skeptical, but it’s true.) Process in a pressure canner for 75 minutes. We usually warm the meat on the stovetop and serve over hot egg noodles. Yum!
Claire
how long can you freeze cooked chicken for?
excited for tuesday!
Tammy Hall
I freeze and can chicken both. I only just started canning it. I have been cooking up whole chickens 2-4 at a time, and de-boning it, and vacuum sealing it for years. It lasts pretty long in the freezer if it vacuum sealed, not sure about the regular freezer bags. The more air you get out ( I have read to take a straw ziplock the bag to the straw and suck out all the air then hurry and seal) the longer it will stay in the freezer. I have had mine in the freezer for months before.
Carrie
@Jennifer Young: I freeze cream cheese and milk and they both work great! You're right about the cream cheese though…you can only use it for baking. The milk is great and comes out tasting just fine.
Tammy Hall
With the cream cheese, do you freeze the block or the container kind,or does it matter? Also, you said to only use it for baking? what about regular cooking recipes where it is cooked in or meltedor literally just for baking after it has been frozen?
Jessica Fisher
It depends on how you plan to use it on the other side of thawing. It becomes crumbly and less spreadable after freezing.
Hoosier Homemade
I'm planning my meals for Dec. With limited time this month, these ideas are great. Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
Sherri @ Design2Shine
You can freeze ripe bananas. If you don't eat them or have time to bake up muffins or bread, just peel them, put in a freezer bag. Pop them out, thaw and make up bread or muffins.
Cindy
@Sherri @ Design2Shine,
I’ve learned you do not even need to peel the bananas. Just throw the fruit in the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator before using (which doesn’t take long).
Over the years, I have tried freezing bananas using several methods. This is the approach I like best.
Meagan
This is my preferred way to freeze them too. I also find it’s easier to peel them when they are still partially frozen before they get too goopy.
Lisa
If you rip a hole large enough, you can squeeze the banana right out of the peel kind of like toothpaste. It comes out in one piece (but I would recommend right into the batter bowl as you wouldn’t want to pick it up lol).
Alice E
I like that idea, I’m not that good at peeling them frozen; but this would work for me and be easier. Thanks
SnoWhite
we freeze fruits/veggies, especially berries and bell peppers!
Mandi
Love this post!! Those tacos look great! I need to stock my freezer, so I'm always looking for good sales so I can get meatballs and meatloaves into the freezer. I've got this bookmarked so I can have an easy list of things to freeze! Thanks!
I am blessed!
I appreciate this post as I'm trying to branch out. I have a couple of casserole recipes that freeze nicely and I just place them frozen in the oven and cook them for about 2.5 hrs on the day we eat them. I like King Ranch Chicken and Chicken Spaghetti. Both of these recipes have lots of vegetables and make for nice one meal dishes. I also freeze apple crisps and breakfast casseroles of eggs, sausage, and cheese.
Jennifer Young
I was going to say cheese too! I've gotten really good deals on shredded cheese and block cheese. I have frozen both and they come out just fine.
I buy pre-made guacamole when it is a good deal with a coupon. That also freezes beautifully. I have not tried to freeze my own, so not sure how that works out.
Other things that freeze: flavored coffee creamers, cookie dough (packaged or your own), fruit (flash freeze), pancakes (also flash freeze). I've also read that cream cheese and milk can be frozen, but the cream cheese can only be used for baking after being frozen. I've never been brave enough to try either!
Thanks for a great post.
Heather Acuna
@Jennifer Young,
When I got married in August I had a dessert reception with about 8 types of cookies. About a month before the wedding I spent a day mixing dough and scooping them into 1″ scoops. I flashed freezed them on cookie sheets then put them into freezer ziplocks according to their type. A couple of days before the wedding my mom and my sister baked all of the cookies. Then my friend arranged them on pretty platers for my reception. I added some other SAMs club petite desserts, a fruit tray, some nuts, and viola, the desserts were taken care of. I spent about $100 on the whole thing. I had cute little dessert sacks for guest to fill and take cookies home for a favor and I still had left overs.
Jessica Fisher
That is a fantastic idea and a great way to put freezer cooking to work for you! Awesome!
Holli
@Heather Acuna,
This is amazing! Seriously, I hope my daughters think like this when they marry.
McKenzie
I’m planning on making most the goodies for my dessert bar for my wedding too. Cookies, but also cupcakes, fruit tarts, and individual chocolates. Chocolates and unfrosted cupcakes, I can freeze, but does anyone know about fruit tarts? Maybe cook the pastry dough, freeze, then thaw and smother with fruit? Anyone tried this? I would love any feedback… Thanks.
Jessica Fisher
You can freeze pastry, baked or unbaked. Just be sure to cool it completely and wrap it well. For longterm, the unbaked dough will hold up longer.
Joyce
Milk freezes very well. You should allow space in the container as it will expand a bit as it freezes. Just take it out of the freezer, thaw and use as usual. Great money saver.
Buttermilk does not freeze well. It seems to separate and just generally does not do well..
Tiffany R
I disagree about buttermilk. I freeze it all the time and once it is defrosted you can just mix it together again. I use it in baking waffles, pancakes and biscuits. I freeze in 1/2 cup portions.
Lynn R.
Buttermilk is used in so many recipes, but I only use it about a half (or quarter) cup at a time, then the rest goes bad in my fridge. I finally took to measuring out my whole container into ziploc bags. I put a measured 1/2 cup of buttermilk in each sandwich sized ziploc and lay them flat in my freezer to freeze. Once frozen, they’re easy to toss around in the freezer, since they’re flat. Then, when a recipe calls for some, voila! I pull it out of the freezer, thaw, shake and use. Simple and a money saver.
Aj
I put mine in IceCube trays a tablespoon or 2 per slot then freeze after I transfer to a ziploc bag…
Ter
you can freeze cheese, if it's shredded! I do this mostly with Mozza because it's not something I use very often but would rather buy the bigger blocks because it's cheaper overall.