Freezer containers (merged threads)

Linda32

blue_monkey wrote: »

My husband hates mashed potato which means I am missing out on things like shepherds pie and fish pie - I do not see the point of cooking for one.
I was wondering if I could 'batch cook' some fish pie and shepherds pie and then stick them in the freezer. If so, what could I use to store them in the freezer in? Ideally something that would go straight into the oven and that would be the perfect size for one.

Hi, This is what I do, make a batch of the mince mixture and freeze in plastic sandwich boxes. I saw some in the £1 shop recently that I'd previously bought. I think you get about 6 for £1.00

I use these for freezing and storing just about everything, so I always go for these.

I always defrost before I cook anything (apart from ready meals, which arn't bought very oftern, but I wouldn't say never) So take out the night before and pop in fridge.

I then tip into oven proof dish and reheat at gas mk 6 for 30 mins which is fine for my oven, you know yours better than me Then if I wanted mash, I'd make this seperate.

This system works for various mince type meals, spag bol, sausage casseroles, stews, cooked chicken.

I'v never made a fish pie so can't help with that.

zippychick

ive merged this with our freezer containers thread BM

Also, this thread may help on cooking from frozen. I prefer to defrost overnight first but that's personal taste

Zip

janb5

I`ve recently come across freezer containers in the supermarket whose orginal function was for hummus or curd cheese. They are quite big and sturdy and once you`ve got the original label off , they are fine for the freezer. I now take any they have in the deli department and I know they just get chucked out otherwise. I`ve got about 8 now and they go in the dishwasher too and retain their shape. HTH

Primrose

blue_monkey wrote: »

Hi all, I was wondering if I could have some advice on how you store your foods please.

My husband hates mashed potato which means I am missing out on things like shepherds pie and fish pie - I do not see the point of cooking for one. The kids have a school meal and have a sandwhich in the evening - and, to be honest I am getting a tad bored with meals. There are only so many boiled potatoes one can eat.

I was wondering if I could 'batch cook' some fish pie and shepherds pie and then stick them in the freezer. If so, what could I use to store them in the freezer in? Ideally something that would go straight into the oven and that would be the perfect size for one.

Is it possible that I could buy those plastic trays that ready meals come in - or will it be cheaper to buy some ready meals (5 for £4) and reuse the plastic containers and then I'll get food as well. I can put some foil on top. Or those foil containers that chinese foods come in?

Also some advice about cooking from frozen - I can do this is I buy from the shop so can I do it from home or are they frozen in a special way.

Thanks for any help.

In the past I've used both plastic & foil containers for freezing small individual meals with mashed potatoes and they work fine for freezing, but both have a problem when it comes to reheating. The plastic ones can be thawed out hurriedly in the microwave if you forget to thaw them out overnight & reheated in the microwave, but the potato won't go crispy brown.

The aluminium foil containers can't be thawed out in the microwave but can obviously be reheated in the oven when the potato covering will go crispy brown. On the whole, I find the aluminium foil tins more convenient but the oven electricity used is obviously more expensive than a shorter burst in the microwave unless you're cooking something else at the same time. . Depending on the size of your freezer, some smallish earthenware dishes (can often be found cheaply in charity shops, etc. ) would probably work for both microwave and oven, as they are safe to use in both, You'd have to slip the contents into a sealted plastic bag first for the freezing procedure.

lil_me

If you're finding you need loads, line the tub with a plastic freezer bag, fill it with what you need, freeze inside the container then when frozen pop it out so you just need to put the bag in the freezer. This saves space too.

reehsetin

I'm prepping a vegetable pie and I want to put half in the freezer for a lazy day, it would need to be something I could put straight in the oven, can I put a silicon or metal oven tray in the freezer and put it straight in the oven to cook from frozen? worried it will crack or something!

Raksha

Either of those would be suitable - the only oven ware I think you have to worry about is ceramic - I am sure most pyrex is freezer to oven proof.

zippychick

freezer containers has some good ideas. I would line the dish with cellophane or greaseproof paper, then put the food in. Once frozen, you can take it out of the dish and use it so it's not in the freezer. Wrap your block of food up. When cooking just pop it back into the dish you used to freeze it

ill merge this later on

Zip

Mummy_Jo

zippychick wrote: »

freezer containers has some good ideas. I would line the dish with cellophane or greaseproof paper, then put the food in. Once frozen, you can take it out of the dish and use it so it's not in the freezer. Wrap your block of food up. When cooking just pop it back into the dish you used to freeze it

ill merge this later on

Zip

Now that is one of the best tips I've ever heard!

reehsetin

That is very clever! it's already gone in in a silicon tray (wont need to use it soon luckily) but that is a very very clever idea!