Lightweight freezer/microwave containers

Primrose

We've been using the aluminium foil containers for freezing mousaka & similar meals but they're not fuel or time friendly because foil can't be thawed & reheated quickly in the microwave, needing at least 20 minutes in a hot oven. Can anybody suggest an alternative lightweight container which doesn't take up a lot of storage space. (We've just bought a new microwave and I'm assuming that even the modern ones won't allow foil to be used in them).

anguk

I re-use the plastic tubs & lids that you get Chinese takeaway in to freeze and microwave.

If you live near a Chinese supermarket you can pick them up quite cheaply, I'm sure I've seen them on ebay too.

Edit: lots on ebay
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=plastic+takeaway+containers&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=takeaway+containers&_osacat=0

rockie4

I buy freezer/microwave containers in Wilkinsons, they're not expensive and you can wash and re-use them several times over.

barbie_babe

I bought the plastic tubs with lids, there was five in a packet,from the pound shop yesturday.

MoradoJess

anguk wrote: »

I re-use the plastic tubs & lids that you get Chinese takeaway in to freeze and microwave.

If you live near a Chinese supermarket you can pick them up quite cheaply, I'm sure I've seen them on ebay too.

Edit: lots on ebay
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=plastic+takeaway+containers&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=takeaway+containers&_osacat=0

This :beer:

morag1202

I use 500gm marg tubs. They seem to last for ever and stack for storage. I find they are just the right size for single portions of cottage pie, fried rice and other one pot stuff and also for double portions of meals which needs separate veg. Good for stewed fruit etc too! - and best of all, free!

They are fine in microwave for defrosting - I reheat on a dinner plate.

madtrekker

You can also stand the foil containers in a bowl of hot water for a few mins to defrost the outside of whatever's frozen (fill bowl up to just below level of foil container). The food should then "pop out" and you can transfer into a pyrex dish or similar for microwaving.

Olliebeak

I'm another who uses margarine tubs (stack really well) and takeaway containers - family under strict instructions NOT to throw out takeaway containers .

catnap53

I stopped buying takeaways when I found MSE, so was getting very low on the containers. My mother kept asking for some and it took me ages to realise that she was giving them away to a friend!

Anyway I finally bought some from Costco, now she can have as many as she likes but I have told her not to give them away as I have had to pay for them.

The size is great though, hold a portion of soup, or a pound of meat, or a single meal. Stack when empty, and space saving when full as fit better in fridge or freezer when containers are all the same size.

Zzzz