Cooking for the Freezer..

elf06

There are loads of threads about to do with what can and cant be frozen and I am sure someone with better knowlege than me will be able to post a linky soon

I think that almost everything can be frozen tho - it may not look the same defrosted but should taste fine in dishes. If you give us some ideas maybe we could help you further?? In my house its just myself and DS (who eats at nursery more often than not) so I tend to do meals and portion up for the freezer. Most obvious ones (in my house) would be things like soup, lasagne, mince and tattie, chille, casseroles, mac cheese, quiches...........

HTH

zippychick

Hi Here's a list of threads which should help you for starters :beer: Yes your peppers and mushrooms will freeze fine

Batch cooking ideas please

Freezer containers

How do you freeze your batch cooking?

Meal building blocks for the freezer

Cooking for the freezer

Nutritionally good meals for the freezer

Help - cooking from frozen

Freezing HM ready meals is a recent thread with good advice and Pink explains how she packages up meals for the freezer:A

Freezing vegetables

Freezing rice

Can you freeze risotto?

Freezing tips and quick questions is always there if you want to ask a quick question

Soup recipes

I'll m erge this once you get some more responses

thanks
Zip

Pink.

Hi madamfifi,

As elf has said most things can be frozen, but you'll find lots of specific advice on this thread:

What foods can/can't you freeze?

I have frozen roasted peppers, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes all together before and they are lovely once defrosted and reheated. These threads have more advice on freezing them:

Can I Freeze Peppers???

Freezing onions

Freezing mushrooms

Pink

Linda32

Hi, Well these loads to be going on with there.

But what sort of meals would you buy ready made, thats what you need to make for the freezer.

All home cooked food will be the best

It is really easy and straight forward once you start, and takes little effort, you just need to plan.
I don't know why I didn't do it earlier :T

alys_fowler

well i go by if i can buy it frozen in the shops i can freeze at home, i tend to batch cook sauces/lasagnes/pies/soups anything really

mia5100

hello i'm looking for advice on freezing leftovers. If I make a pie with leftover chicken and veg, do i make the pie cook it then freeze it, or make the pie and freeze before cooking???

Also planning on making jam tarts and fairy cakes for the kids packed lunches do I take them out the night before or will they be defrosted in time if i take them out in the morning. And finally, the same with bread and bagels (currently on bogof) defrost overnight or make them in the morning still frozen and hope they will defrost before their lunch???

sorry for the long post, any help gratefully received.

Fruball

Pie can be frozen cooked or uncooked as far as I am aware altho the chicken will be reheated a couple of times... But I would be happy to freeze it cooked.

Re cakes and tarts - they should be defrosted by lunchtime and will help keep sandwiches cool too Bread rolls should defrost in time for lunch too

HTH

foxgloves

Is it a chicken pie with pastry? If I'm doing those for the freezer (or quiches), I make the pie, top it with pastry then freeze it with the pastry uncooked. I find I can then cook it from frozen & the pastry doesn't dry out because it's only been cooked once.

Apricot

Just made Jamie Oliver's Cauliflower Macaroni but I've got loads left. It contains creme fraiche - will it be ok to freeze in portions?

pupsicola

I have a few days to myself and my freezer is nearly empty.:eek:
I am planning to do a food shop tomorrow and want to do some bulk cooking to stock the freezer. Was thinking of buying loads of mince and cooking cottage pie, spag bol and chilli. Would really appreciate any other ideas and recipes using mince or other meat like chicken, lamb etc etc

Thanks for any ideas

Sarah