Freezer containers (merged threads)

~Chameleon~

krlyr wrote: »

Takeaway containers fit a good amount for two, but with minces, pulled pork, etc. I tend to create a divide in the middle by pushing the meat to each side. This then means if I need just a single portion, I can 'snap' the block of meat into two pieces and just reheat half.

That's a good idea! I had a load of split tubs I picked up cheaply in Tesco a couple of years ago but haven't seen them for ages. These were ideal as I could freeze two portions or a portion of rice and curry in separate sides. Wish I could find more but in the mean time I'll try your idea.

[Deleted User]

Bublin1 wrote: »

I thought veg needed to be cooked or blanched first before freezing.
Also wouldn't they all stick together in a big bag?

I rarely blanche before freezeing and as for the big lump in a bag I just give it a whack with the wooden mallet that I use for tenderising steak (gets more use that way as steak is a bit beyond my means at the moment :):))
I have a couple of lock 'n' lock boxes that I use for diced onion.If I see a bargaing in onions I will buy and peel,dice and box up for the freezer.once iced and frozen just chip off however much you need .Often before, I would end up binning half and onion .not anymore, everything I cannot use straight away,if possible gets frozen for later

~Chameleon~

Bublin1 wrote: »

I thought veg needed to be cooked or blanched first before freezing.
Also wouldn't they all stick together in a big bag?

It helps to prevent it from deteriorating by blanching first so if you're planning to keep it for more than a week or two in the freezer then I would.

You can prevent it from sticking by open freezing on a tray first then transferring to bags once frozen.

Honey_Bear

Bublin1 wrote: »

Another question....do you wait for food to cool right down to cold before putting into bags? Can you put warmish packages into the freezer? Is that unhealthy or just making your freezer work too hard to get the temp back down?

Uggh I'm a novice so need to ask dumb questions!

There's no such thing as a stupid or dumb question. The chances are if you don't know the answer, you're not alone - it was just that you had the courage to ask.

If you put warm or hot food in the freezer - yes, you're heating up the freezer and making it work extra hard. Too much, and you run the risk of accidently defrosting things next to the warmer stuff. Food should cool down as quickly as possible which basically means letting room temperature air circulate around it for those of us who don't have a (catering, industrial) blast chiller. Then, in a perfect world, you'd put it in the fridge to get it cold and then transfer it to the freezer.

I buy 10 takeaway boxes at a time from the Chinese supermarket around the corner for £1 and keep pretty much everything in the fridge and the freezer in them. They warp if you put them in the dishwasher and if they're frozen repeatedly they get a bit brittle, but over the past 10 years I've only bought 30 and I've always got some empty in the cupboard.

If I need to create space in the freezer I debox stuff and put it in freezer bags, wrapped around with masking tape and labelled in indelible pen.

Smidster

sixtiesgal wrote: »

I use the food containers from Wilkinsons, you get a decent amount for about a pound.

How long do you freeze the meals for? Just wandering if it goes out of date after so long.

Personally I have no qualms eating something that has been in the freezer for a very long period of time (heck I am still eating Yogurt from March)

I think the general advice is that while it is unlikely to "go off", providing it is stored correctly, the quality will decline somewhat over time. Obviously it is like everything else that yo should let your eyes and nose guide you - if you heat it and it smells bad then don't eat it

zippychick

ive merged this with an older relevant thread

Zip