Over the next few days I am going to do a few posts on Freezer Cooking. If you haven’t tried any freezer cooking yet, I highly recommend you give it a try. It has saved me both time and money!
So to begin I’ll cover a few basics on what you can freeze.
Hamburger patties-buy a couple pounds of hamburger, form the patties, put on a cookie sheet to freeze, then transfer to freezer bags. It’s a good idea to use wax paper in between them. It helps to separate them and protect them from freezer burn. If you want add some seasonings or even dry ranch seasonings to add a little punch!
Meatballs-you can freeze these before you cook them. Just mix them, shape them, and put on a cookie sheet to freeze. Transfer to a freezer bag after they are frozen. When you’re ready to use them, thaw them and cook them like you normally would.
Browned Hamburger-brown a bunch of hamburger, let it cool, transfer to a freezer bag. 2.5 cups of browned hamburger equals 1 pound of hamburger. If you like you can season it before you freeze it to save another step. This is great for spaghetti, tacos, casseroles, etc.
Chicken breasts-I always buy chicken breasts in bulk. Sometimes I put them right into freezer bags(usually 2 per bag for my family) and other times I throw some marinades on them before I put them in the freezer.
Whole Chickens-either freeze them whole or throw it in the crockpot on low for 6 hours. It will literally fall off the bone and be SO easy to work with! Put a little water in the bottom of the crockpot-usually just enough to cover the bottom of it. When it’s done I shred it and put it in freezer bags for enchiladas, wraps, soups, etc.
Pork Roasts-One of the easiest things to do with a pork roast is put it in the crockpot on low for about 6 hours. When it’s ready it will be easy to shred and versatile. I usually dump some BBQ sauce in it for shredded pork sandwiches. When it’s cool, put it in a freezer bag and throw it in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat it, let it thaw and warm it up to serve on buns.
Casseroles-most casseroles freeze really well. I typically double pasta bakes whenever I make them and throw them in the freezer. Many times I’ll use less meat in them also to stretch the hamburger-1 pound for 2 dishes instead of a pound per dish. It depends on your family’s preference. My husband never notices the difference when I do this.
Sauces-pasta sauce freezes really well. I also freeze pizza sauce if I won’t use all of it at once. This is good to do and pair with the Spicy Meat & Cheese Stromboli so you have both when you make dinner.
Homemade French Fries, Hashbrowns, diced potatoes, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes. Click here for more details.
Desserts-many times when I bake I end up freezing some of it. Most cookies and brownies freeze really well. Cookie dough is also a great thing to freeze(just be sure to put it in your deep freeze if you have one so you aren’t as tempted to eat it!-I’m guilty!).
Breads-I love to stock up on bread and buns so I always have it on hand. Both freeze very well. Sometimes I will transfer the buns into a freezer bag to keep them fresh longer since I don’t always use them as fast as the bread.
Milk-I just discovered this wonderful thing last year. I can’t count how many times I’ve dumped unused whole milk when my son was little. My daughter is drinking milk like crazy so it’s not an issue so much with her! My step mom always says I’m finicky about milk(I’m one to toss it the day of or after expiration date). This has saved me money! Be sure to leave a little room at the top of your container because it will expand.
There are so many things you can freeze. Tune in tomorrow for ways to freezing techniques(containers to use, etc). You may not have much freezer space, but you can get more in your freezer than you think if you package everything just right.
Do you freeze a lot of meals to have on hand? What foods do you typically freeze? Have you found certain foods that don’t freeze well?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the great tips! Do you know about freezing cheesecake? My husband doesn’t eat it, so I haet wasting it, especially the chocolate chip pumpkin cheesecake! Thanks.
Sunnie,
I’ve never tried freezing cheesecake, but I looked it up for you. It looks like you can freeze them, but it’s not recommended to freeze them longer than 1 month. Be sure to wrap it really good with saran wrap and foil. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin….oh my goodness I’m craving it! There was a recipe in Better Homes & Gardens last year that I still want to try!
Thanks for checking that out for me! The recipe is from HersheysKitchens, and one month should be good enough, so that I don’t get all “cheesecaked out!” Again, thanks, Sunnie.
I host a monthly once-a-month cooking day for some friends. I’ve found very little doesn’t freeze! I’ll try freezing everything at least once; you just never know if it’ll work for your tastes until you try it! For instance, my family doesn’t mind frozen pasta or potato soup re-heated.
My favorite freezer meal is mini-meatloaves. I make multiple batches, flash freeze them and then move them to freezer bags. When making that meal, for my family or for someone else’s, I take out how many mini-meatloaves I want to cook, top with sauce, and bake. Very quick & easy!
I do the same with cookie dough. I scoop all the dough into balls, flash freeze, and then put them into baggies. (And no, the deep freeze isn’t enough deterrent in my house! Dh just LOVES frozen cookie dough!)