Freezer containers (merged threads)

Pink.

Hi Kel,

There's a long thread on freezer containers that should give you lots of ideas: Freezer containers

I'll merge your thread with that one later to keep all the suggestions together.

Pink

Ticklemouse

Be careful about defrosting stuff in your microwave if you are re-using ice cream/marg tubs etc. They aren't microwave friendly in that they leach chemicals into the food when subjected to heat or foodstuffs they wren't designed for.

I've just thrown away all my ice cream tubs as I've used stuff up out of the freezer. I treated myself to sets of stackable tubs from Lakeland last summer. Yes, they were expensive (although I got a deal on them) but they are freezer/micro and DW safe and they stack well in the cupboard so that for the first time, I can keep my 'tupperware' cupboard tidy and get to what I want when I want it :j

lil_me

No I don't put the icecream/marg ones in microwave at all. Wouldn't risk it. I don't use the foil takeaway cartons, just the plastic ones. Saying that a friend of mine makes lasagne etc in the foil ones then just uses them in the oven to bake them in.

Mermaid

I use some microwave-proof containers which are 10 for £1 from Poundland. You can also buy similar ones for about £5 for 50 from Makro. These are good as they are stackable and fairly transparent, so you can see what's in them without taking the lid off. They are about the size of chinese takeaway containers. I've been able to wash them and reuse them many times.

For smaller quanities, I use some tubs from Wilkinson, which have a vent in the lid and a rotating plug to fill it. I think they cost about 50p each and hold about a third as much as the larger tubs.

Oh, yeah, and it's a good idea to label them with contents and date - I've currently got 4 'unknowns' in my freezer - one night soon, it will be mystery food night in my house! You can buy post-it tape, which is just a roll of paper with the post-it glue on the back in a handy dispenser. This is ideal as you can just tear off the amount you need.

Mermaid

Murtle

I reuse the local Chinese or Thai plastic containers and resealable bags.

The containers are great because they stack well in the freezer, I can mark their contents in pen on the top (which washes off when I've used them) and the contents resemble what they are meant to!! The bags are great for soups, or loose items like cooked mince as they squidgy into the gaps!

x

angelofabundance

I quite often cut the bottoms off fruit juice cartons and plastic milk bottles not just for freezing food but for storing bits and bobs [make up, safety pins, buttons, jewellery, brushes etc.] in drawers. Just tidies everything up.

lil_me

I ran out of labels so used a roll of masking tape (which was about 20p) and works a treat just write on with one of the kids felt tips and stick it on the lid.

I too have forgot occasionally to label food and have had a mystery night, my friends was hilarious, she gave her partner rhubard pie with peas and gravy and mince and onion pie with custard as she forgot to label them :rotfl:

I have used the bottoms of cartons before but usually put sticky tape folded over the top as I find the top is sometimes sharp.

Avoriaz

Kel wrote:

What do you freeze your food in??

A freezer normally.:p

stilernin

furndire wrote:

I use take away type containers - the plastic ones - not too keen on the foil ones, as you can't reuse the lids.
When I want to defrost, I turn container upside down under running warm water for a couple of minutes, ..................

No need to run the hot tap to get the frozen block out....... just float the container in a few inches of cold water for a few minutes and it will separate. Better still, just get it out of the freezer a bit earlier.

Floating a sealed bag of frozen meat in cold water also speeds up defrosting too. You might need to change the water a couple of times but it is better that getting warm meat if you use the microwave.

grannybroon

I usually freeze stews, spag, chilli etc in containers then transfer to poly bags once frozen. I like the masking tape tip, lil_me!