Freezing - Tips and Quick Questions thread

Linda32

Hi,

Quick question of freezing cooked meat, by which I mean the sort that comes in packets and used for sandwiches, Ham, Corned Beef and the like.

I don't eat it myself but OH takes it to work in his sandwiches. Now these oftern offers on 2 for £3.00 etc. Is it okay to buy these and the freeze for future use.

I'm abit bothered about the fact that when I'm likely to use it, it will be after the use by date, is this a good idea?

Linda32

This is what I do when I make a mince and potato pie.

I make one big on, (I'm sure it would be the same for individual pies)

I make the pastry and fill with cooked filling, then top with pastry and cook the pie.

Then I portion up into six pieces and freeze. - This is the key and would be the same for individual pies.

Then I defrost just two portions and re-heat these portions, so each portion is only re-heated once. For my oven 1/2 hr at gas mark 6 works fine for me.

Tabatha_Kitten

I cheat !
I freeze my pie filling in tubs (those chinese take away plastic ones do two portions perfectly) then defrost & cook in the microwave when needed.
I then cook a "square" of pastry seperatly on a baking tray then place ontop of the filling when I serve.
I know its not quite the same as having a top & a bottom like you get with a pie, but Ive had no complaints yet.

gizmo111

My poor freezer is working overtime this weekend!
I have frozen them raw - ready to go in oven from frozen - the girls will be able to manage this if I am not home without burning the house down or ending up with a soggy mess from microwave.
There will be no leftovers as they are individual pies.

gizmo111

Linda32 wrote: »

Hi,

Quick question of freezing cooked meat, by which I mean the sort that comes in packets and used for sandwiches, Ham, Corned Beef and the like.

I don't eat it myself but OH takes it to work in his sandwiches. Now these oftern offers on 2 for £3.00 etc. Is it okay to buy these and the freeze for future use.

I'm abit bothered about the fact that when I'm likely to use it, it will be after the use by date, is this a good idea?

I often chuck it in the freezer loses a little bit of the taste but easily disguised with salad mayo etc.
As long as it is frozen fresh the date you use it won't matter.
Some people actually make the sandwiches and freeze the whole thing just taking out on the morning and they will defrost by lunchtime.

zippychick

Linda32 wrote: »

Hi,

Quick question of freezing cooked meat, by which I mean the sort that comes in packets and used for sandwiches, Ham, Corned Beef and the like.

I don't eat it myself but OH takes it to work in his sandwiches. Now these oftern offers on 2 for £3.00 etc. Is it okay to buy these and the freeze for future use.

I'm abit bothered about the fact that when I'm likely to use it, it will be after the use by date, is this a good idea?

Hiya - the freezing preserves the food so no it doesn't matter

this thread may also help you

Zip

zippychick

Tabatha_Kitten wrote: »

I cheat !
I freeze my pie filling in tubs (those chinese take away plastic ones do two portions perfectly) then defrost & cook in the microwave when needed.
I then cook a "square" of pastry seperatly on a baking tray then place ontop of the filling when I serve.
I know its not quite the same as having a top & a bottom like you get with a pie, but Ive had no complaints yet.

That sounds more hassle than making a pie up?!?! :rotfl:

Giz - glad you have it sorted

Zip

FatVonD

Do you or don't you?

I usually freeze it as soon as I get home and then cook it from frozen as I worry it may go off if it's sitting around all day defrosting but am I doing the right thing? We're planning a barbeque at the weekend composed of mostly whoopsied food, I'm going to cook drumsticks from frozen in the oven first anyway and then just brown on the barbie but what about burgers (they're the quarter pounder type originally from the chiller cabinet) can I chance defrosting them? Am I more or less likely to give everyone food poisoning if they sit defrosting overnight or if they're not cooked through properly because they went on the barbie partially frozen?

Help! (Please!)

Pink.

I buy a lot of reduced on date meat and always defrost it before cooking. Just use your senses...look, smell, taste before eating.

I would defrost the chicken legs, once they've passed the sense test above, pop them onto the barbeque to get the bbq flavour and colouring then finish them off in the oven to make sure they're cooked through while you cook everything else.

Once you've had more replies I'll add your thread to the quick questions on freezing thread.

Pink

MaggieBaking

Put everything into the fridge to defrost for 24-48 hours - that way you don't have to worry about them sitting out getting warm. Personally I think it'd be worse to cook from frozen, but I'm happy for someone to say I'm wrong!