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Making Freezer Meals - Looking for Suggestions

Posted on 3/17/15 at 5:44 pm
Posted by Hat Tricks
Member since Oct 2003
28612 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 5:44 pm
Anybody ever done this? Looking to make a few meals ahead to store in the freezer and pop in the oven or crockpot for easy weekday meals. Any suggestions or recipes for freezer meals that don't suck or things that just freeze better than others?
This post was edited on 3/17/15 at 5:46 pm
Posted by LouisianaLady
Member since Mar 2009
81197 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 5:56 pm to
I love to freeze baked pastas. You can individually slice them for microwaving. Or you can freeze in the mini foil baking tins to bake.

I usually do a baked ziti with homemade marinara and ricotta and parmesan.. Some do egg and stuff in it too so it is the right consistency.
Posted by LouisianaLady
Member since Mar 2009
81197 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 5:58 pm to
Check out The Pioneer Woman's freezer meal article.

Good recipes and good tricks for the best way to freeze things.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47377 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 6:42 pm to
If you have a vacuum sealer, it's great for doing this. Things like leftover pulled pork, chili, spaghetti meat sauce...freeze well that way and for long periods of time. Coq au vin and beef bourguignon or other meat stews are great dishes and freeze well in vac bags. I scoop them in when they're cold.

You can freeze grilled/smoked chicken and ribs and burgers for quick meals also.

Obviously gumbos and most soups freeze well along with pasta dishes as mentioned.

For lasagna, I line the dish with non stick foil, put the lasagna together, freeze, then remove the casserole dish and wrap it really well. You can do that with lots of casserole dish type meals. Just unwrap it, put it back in the casserole dish and bake. Or freeze in individual servings once it's partially frozen and you can freeze those.
This post was edited on 3/17/15 at 7:38 pm
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50117 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 6:57 pm to
Lasagna , spaghetti, stew, gumbo, jambalaya , chili, soups, cassaroles...
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 7:35 pm to
Beans--red, white, black--freeze especially well. You can defrost in the time it takes to cook rice (20 mins). Chili, bean n kale n sausage soup, lasagna (I freeze unbaked), and pasta sauces w meat are all good candidates.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47377 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 7:39 pm to
You can also freeze vegetable purees to use as bases for soups later on. Also things like roasted herb seasoned tomatoes for soup, sauce or a pizza topping.
Posted by Hat Tricks
Member since Oct 2003
28612 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 8:27 pm to
Thanks everybody.
Posted by AmosMosesAndTwins
Lake Charles
Member since Apr 2010
17886 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 9:07 pm to
I freeze individual meals in mason jars or small Pyrex containers: gumbo, enchilada soup, bisque, meatballs in sauce, jambalaya, roast w/ carrots, filling for stuffed bellpeppers, etc.

Combats wasting and helps for busy weeks. I pull out a variety of containers at the beginning of the week and put them in the fridge to break up the monotomy of eating the same dish leftover for a week.

Also keep individual portions of lasagna, double bagged, in ziploc freezer bags. Hamburger patties and sauceless meatballs are convenient to have too.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47377 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 9:13 pm to
I vac seal leftover roast, thinly sliced, with gravy for poboys. Lasts forever in the freezer and takes up very little space.
Posted by AmosMosesAndTwins
Lake Charles
Member since Apr 2010
17886 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 9:18 pm to
Jack Daniels pulled pork with a little Tony's on corn tortillas with cheese and sour cream is surprisingly good.
Posted by AmosMosesAndTwins
Lake Charles
Member since Apr 2010
17886 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 9:19 pm to
Mason jars are my poor man's vacuum sealer. The avalanche of jars every time I open my freezer is getting old though.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47377 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 9:23 pm to
quote:

The avalanche of jars every time I open my freezer is getting old though.



I get that for sure.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47377 posts
Posted on 3/17/15 at 9:24 pm to
When I freeze in containers, I line the top of the food with plastic wrap and rub out any air pockets. Pretty much vac seasls it.
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