Help! Would you freeze these items?

preciousillusions

Hi there .

Sorry to start a whole new thread for this but I wasn't sure where else to put it where It wouldn't be overlooked and really could do with some advice!

Basically, complete nightmare in that our oven has burnt out and is unusable. We are looking into a repair or replacement but it's going to be next week sometime probably. In the meantime I have some food that I need the oven for. Most of this can be either microwaved or alternatively frozen for use at a later time. However, there are two specific items that I am unsure as to what I should do with as the storage instructions aren't clear.

The first is this ready-to-bake root veg gratin from Waitrose. Can't cook in microwave and i doesn't say it is freezable on the label but it doesn't say you can't freeze it either. I am aware though that most products will state specifically if you CAN freeze, but maybe they just recommend you don't freeze it instead of it being a strict instruction?

The other product actually states on the box 'do not freeze' but well, it's just a pizza. A Sainsburys cheese stuffed crust pizza Does anyone have any idea as to why this wouldn't be freezable, and If I ignore their warning and freeze it anyway will I make myself ill? I mean isn't it just dough and cheese and tomato sauce? Hmm. Do you think it might be because the pizza comes with a small dip? I mean, if so I could obviously just remove the dip from the box but then freeze the pizza.

I just really hate wasting food and will have to throw this stuff away otherwise , argh. Both items go out of date today so it's definitely freeze or toss time. Before anyone suggests it (as it's a good idea in theory) no I don't have a neighbour or friend I can ask to give me use of their cooking facilities unfortunately.

So would you risk it?

Thank you in advance for any replies, much appreciated.
x

sooty&sweep

Personally I would be happy to freeze both.
They often label things like the pizza as don't freeze because they've previously been frozen. However I don't think you can come to any harm off a pizza. Although the dip may not fair so well.
Jen

thenanny2die4

Well, I would, but I'm always noticing the "do not freeze" notice when I defrost something I've bunged in the freezer without a second thought. I always use them anyway and I'm here to tell the tale. These are always veggie items by the way.

Seriously, there's no meat involved. I can't see that you'll have any health implications with either of these.

Your decision though.


Edit: Well spotted sooty; I didn't notice about the dip - I bet that's it. Freeze it and chuck the dip away.

preciousillusions

Thank you both so much! Yeah I edited my post above to add about the dip as figured as much. Maybe Sainsburys thought it too much hassle to specify on the box that the pizza can be frozen but not the dip and thought simpler to just state 'Do not freeze'. I can use the dip on something else quite easily. & yeah, very good point about there being no meat involved. I will hope that the veg gratin won't go all mushy when I defrost it though, we'll see.

I know this might seem like common sense really but guess I just needed some reassurance on it .

meritaten

Freeze everything except the dip. I figure if its counterpart is in frozen food section then its OK to freeze it! (and I have seen dips frozen before).

Frugalsod

preciousillusions wrote: »

I just really hate wasting food and will have to throw this stuff away otherwise , argh. Both items go out of date today so it's definitely freeze or toss time. Before anyone suggests it (as it's a good idea in theory) no I don't have a neighbour or friend I can ask to give me use of their cooking facilities unfortunately.

So would you risk it?

Thank you in advance for any replies, much appreciated.
x

It is probably perfectly fine even in a weeks time. Unless you are exceptionally susceptible to germs you could eat this next week without problems as long as you store it well. Cook it properly and you should be fine. Though if you cannot cook them freeze them until you can.

Tigerprint

The vegetables may not freeze very well if not pre-cooked. They are likely to turn watery & mushy (I had a similar incident & froze a fresh cauliflower item which stated 'do no freeze'; defrosted it was a stodgy smelly watery mess)

I can't see an issue with the pizza though, unless the supermarket are covering their back sides as pre frozen cheese had been used, or more likely, as you say, due to the dip.

JulieGeorgiana

I'd say you're fine to freeze both.

But do not defrost vegetables, the freezing process changes their molecular structure and they'll be mush of defrosting.

I throw any frozen veg straight into the oven, boiling water on the stove or the steamer and they turn out just fine.

I'd also cook the pizza from frozen too.

Both will just take a little bit longer to cook is all

preciousillusions

Thanks again everyone, you've all been a great help! Ordered new cooker but not going to be delivered till the 4th March so still a while off, have put the items in the freezer though and will just hope for the best. & as per advice I will cook the veg dish from frozen when I get around to it instead of defrosting x

Steve059

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

<snip> But do not defrost vegetables, the freezing process changes their molecular structure and they'll be mush of defrosting.<snip>

Actually, the ice crystals that form inside the cells during freezing pierce the cell walls. The result is the same, though.

tiredwithtwins

the only disaster ive ever had with freezing veg is when I froze a bag of broccoli ... when I defrosted it the little green floret bits all fell off and I was left with a pan of stalks:rotfl::rotfl:

yep, bung it all in the freezer ... I even freeze hummous and yoghurts if it means they don't get chucked out cos of use by dates