Freezer containers (merged threads)

Ticklemouse

Like tootles, I make things like shepherds pie, lasagne and moussaka in oven to table ware - if you buy the lasagne dishes they are fairly flat so you can just wrap them well in clingfilm and stack them on top of one another in the freezer.

For other meals - from portions of bolognaise, chilli or soup or part/cooked ingredients, like curry sauce and stock, I either put into plastic bags or microwaveable plastic containers. I have bought those similar to the ones you can get from chinese takeaways at 6 for £1 and they are reuseable. I also use Carte Dor ice cream tubs, but don't use those in the microwave.

(Non-microwaveable plastic has a much lower melting point than microwaveable plastic, so if you use ice cream and marge tubs inthe micro, you are undoubtedly leaching chemicals into your food, so it is advised you don't)

FunkyFairy

I got a load of lovely plastic containers from the School tuck shop. They just throw them away.

Might be worth asking your school if they run a tuck shop.

comping_cat

On the rare (very rare these days) occasion that we have had a take away, the local chinese serves them up in a plastic tray and lid, which i wash out and keep, then use for my frozen meals!!!!

Ronankfan

I use my old chinese containers as well and i have also bought from poundland and their containers are very good. I use old ice cream tubs too!!

tanith

have you thought about lining dishes with foil ? leaving some overlap. You can freeze them in the dish so they retain the shape ,take out of the dish when frozen and fold over the extra foil and bung back into the freezer. Then when you want to use it you can put it back into the dish you cooked it in . This way you don't lose all your dishes to the freezer.....

catkins

I will try the lining with foil tonight but I also think a trip to Poundland tomorrow is in order (good excuse to look round the shops)

squeaky

You can use the same trick with freezer bags too. Put the bag into a suitable container, fill & freeze, then re-use the container.




Don't forget to label the whatever-it-is otherwise you'll forever be playing an interesting game called "Freezer Surprise"

Ticklemouse

Squeaky - I tried this with bags inside plastic tubs - and I'm still waiting to use the stock so that I can get my tubs back. I just can't get them out now they are frozen - and it's not because the bags have leaked or folded themselves over the top etc.

squeaky

If that happens I put some hot water in a slightly larger bowl and then dip the thing in for a few seconds. Turn it upside down and a light tap will shift it.

Did I tell you my middle name was SmartyPants?




I only do this with plastic containers though. I'm never too sure about cracking china or other pottery type ones. never too sure about freezing those anyway

Rachie_B

Ok guys so ive decided i want to stock up the freezer with lots of HM bakes / makes

i usually make meals from scratch but am unsure about freezing them

what containers etc do you use? i dont really want to shell out on expensive containers if i can help it

so i need help / advice on how to freeze things like muffins / pies / a quiche / fruit loaf / soups / casserole / bread and butter pudding etc

are freezer bags ok or do i need those tupperwars type tubs

is there anything that CANT be frozen (just so i know and dont poison my family lol)

also (dont laugh ) can mashed potato be frozen ? its my fave comfort food :rotfl: so to have a stash ready made that i can just throw in the microwave would be fab lol

also (last Q i promise!) could this soup be frozen ?

CREAMY TOMATO SOUP

1 onion
2 tbsp olive oil
tin chopped toms
1/2 tsp caster sugar
200ml veg stock
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp mascarpone cheese
handful fresh basil leaves
salt & pepper
2 tbsp fresh cream

1) peel & chop onion into small pieces.
Cook in the olive oil until soft
2)Add chopped toms,sugar and stock.Drop in the bay leaf and cook gently for 15 mins
3)Take pan off heat and add the mascarpone and basil.
4) Blend until smooth,season if necessary.
5) serve with a little cream swirled on top

wasnt sure due to the mascarpone content ?