Containers for batch cooking and freezing

Citygirl1

Just wondering, which type of containers do you use for batch cooking and freezing portions? I have always used the Tupperware type ones but my friend uses the foil ones, they are OK as you can throw them away but you can't put them in the microwave so you would still need to transfer the food into a Tupperware container to heat it up in the microwave.

Islandmaid

I use the reusable plastic 'chinese takeaway' type boxes, I get them in batches of 50 f on amazon which last about a year between 3 of us taking leftover lunches to work.

ScotinLondon

I do a mix of two types of containers - ziplock sandwich bags and the Chinese takeaway boxes.

When I use the sandwich bags in the freezer, I find I can freeze more in the freezer and also do portion control ...plus in this weather, they take next to no time to defrost. I then transfer into the takeaway boxes then taking into work.

I reuse the sandwich bags too - they last about a year.

Pollycat

Islandmaid wrote: »

I use the reusable plastic 'chinese takeaway' type boxes, I get them in batches of 50 f on amazon which last about a year between 3 of us taking leftover lunches to work.

I use these too.

And once the food is frozen, it's very easy to flirt the frozen oblong out and bag it. Do NOT forget to label it.
Then you can wash the container and reuse it.
It also cuts down on wasted space in the freezer.
I do the same with packs of meat.

I don't have a problem reheating as I'd never reheat in the plastic container anyway.

PasturesNew

I find the regular takeaway boxes WAY too big, but you can get smaller ones (250ml). Really they're too large for a lot of things too though.... so I just wing it with what I've got, which can be anything from an old margarine tub to mug - lining them with a freezer bag, filling with contents, freezing, then maybe removing the original holding container (e.g. if a mug) as it's only been used for convenience.

bouicca21

Bought takeaway type containers from wilko, reusable, microwaveable, freezable.

WeeMidgie

I use, and re-use, the foil containers, the small size as I'm cooking for just me. I reheat them in my Remoska. When the lids are too far gone to be re-used, I use foil.

Ilona

I make batches of soups and stews, and freeze them in margarine tubs. Can be used over and over again. I microwave them in a pyrex bowl when I want to eat one. There's no way I would buy containers.

ilona

Primrose

I freeze home made soups in one pint plastic milk bottles, whizzing them with a stick blend first for easy pouring. The bottles can be reused time and time again, reducing plastic use. This stores 2 good portions. To thaw quickly I just remove the top and place the bottle in a measuring jug or bowl in the microwave in case the bottle splits although in all the years I,ve been storing them this way they never have.

For Meat sauces such as Spag Bol, chilled con carne etc I freeze in plastic bags as they can be squished into a flat pack when first putting into the freezer for maximising storage.

home grown soft fruit I store in zip lock plastic bags which also squash flatter and make it easy to just grab a handful for using with porridge, etc.

I rarely use plastic containers at all. Just remember to label your plastic bags. I once tipped a bag of gooseberry pur!e Into to a home made soup saucepan th8nking it was home made chicken stock . The two look very similar in a frozen state !

Callie22

I use a mix of containers - foil ones when it's something that I'm unlikely to need to defrost quickly or can cook from frozen, and a mix of the Chinese takeaway-type tubs and plastic bags for other things. I'm trying to move away from the takeaway tubs just because I find that they seem to go a bit brittle when they're frozen and I don't like to use so much plastic. That's not a problem if you let them warm up a bit before trying to open them, but I've had a few lids shatter when I've tried to open them when they're still cold and a few tubs where corners have got cracked off in the freezer. I've ended up throwing some food away as I haven't been convinced that I've found all of the shards and my OH is the sort that would definitely find it! I'm moving more towards the Pyrex-type containers which still have a plastic lid, but are a bit more multi-purpose. The downsides are that they are much dearer, they're a bit of a pain to store and they are a bit less 'bounceable'.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I generally use ziplock bags, as they are perfect for portion control and take up very little space - if I'm freezing soups, I'll line a plastic beaker with one and that way, the soup easily comes out in a block and can be stacked up in the bag, freeing the beaker up for other things.

If I need to defrost something in a hurry, rather than risking the microwave starting to cook on the outside, I just drop the bags into hot, warm or cold water, depending upon how quickly I need it for cooking.

If it's a leftover portion of a meal and/or I haven't got any bags left, I'll use a small plastic tub that can bear reheating in the microwave, as those meals are for the OH to eat when I'm not about (he's a small and picky eater), covered with cling film or parchment paper rather than a plastic lid.

I'll also open freeze fruit on parchment in an old tray from a smaller freezer I used to have, then make sure they're all separate before dropping into another Ziplock.

I'm sure there are more ecologically friendly ways to do it, but it means the freezer is well stocked with labelled bags all with enough for a meal in them.