The coronavirus outbreak and its resulting self-quarantines have sent us all flocking to grocery stores to stock up on food and prepare our pantries. Weve been sharing recipes you can make with shelf-stable foods in your pantry like tuna, pasta, rice and beans , but you shouldnt forget about another valuable item in the kitchen your freezer.
Some recipes lend themselves to freezing perfectly, such as casseroles, soups, stews, chilis, meatballs and pasta dishes here are a few of our favorites . But keep in mind that a recipe doesnt have to be labeled freezer-friendly to be freezable. You can freeze virtually anything (though the aforementioned foods maintain their flavor and texture the best after being reheated).
Buy fresh ingredients now while theyre still in stores, then cook some dishes and stash them in your freezer for a time when you may not be able to access fresh fruits, vegetables and meats as easily.
There are just a few things to keep in mind when it comes to preparing foods for your freezer. Heres everything you need to know about food containers, how long the food will last, how to thaw it and more.
How To Prepare Food For Freezing
Its important to let hot food cool to room temperature before putting it in your freezer. A hot dish of lasagna, for example, will raise the temperature of the freezer, making the food in it less safe.
Follow these helpful guidelines from allrecipes.com for safe freezing:
Use only specialty freezer wrappings. They should be both moisture-proof and vapor-proof.
Leave as little air as possible in the packages and containers. When freezing liquids in containers, allow a small amount of head room for expansion. When using freezer bags, be sure to remove as much air as possible before closing.
Wrap solids foods like meats and baked goods tightly in foil before you bag them.
Use rigid containers with an airtight lid and keep the sealing edge free from moisture or food to ensure proper closure.
Secure wrapped packages and containers with freezer tape, and write the dish and the date on the tape with a marker.
In many cases, meats and fish wrapped by the grocer or butcher need no extra attention before freezing. However, meat wrapped on Styrofoam trays with plastic wrap will not hold up well to freezing. If the food you want to freeze was not specially wrapped, then rewrap them at home.
Freeze in small containers with no more than a 1-quart capacity to ensure that freezing takes place in a timely manner (i.e., within four hours). Food that is 2 inches thick will take about two hours to freeze completely.
In addition, never, ever freeze in glass jars unless theyre explicitly freezer-safe , as the glass could shatter (particularly if youre freezing a liquid like soup, which could expand as it freezes). Instead, use plastic containers or a freezer-safe zip-seal plastic bag.
Soups, Stews and Chilis
Freezer bags are a great option here. Pour your soup into a few different bags to keep them manageable in your freezer, and youll be able to stack them easily when it comes time to save some room. They also make single-serving thawing a breeze.
Cooked Meat, Poultry and Fish
Freezer bags are also your best bet for these items, because they can seal airtight around the meat, eliminating air gaps that can cause freezer burn. The less air in the bag, the better.
Cooked poultry 4 months
Uncooked poultry parts 9 months
Uncooked whole poultry 12 months
Cooked meat 2 to 3 months
Uncooked roasts 4 to 12 months
Uncooked steaks or chops 4 to 12 months
Uncooked ground meat 3 to 4 months
Casseroles and Baked Pasta Dishes
You may be tempted to freeze a glass casserole dish or pan, but only do so if youve completely cooled it down to room temperature after baking. Otherwise, you could risk the glass shattering. Aluminum pans are a better option. Before you put your room-temp dish in the freezer, seal it well with foil and then put plastic wrap on top of that. BonAppetit.com says you can even take it one step further: You can line a baking dish with foil, bake and freeze it, then lift the frozen casserole out of the dish whole, wrap it up tightly, and store it in a freezer bag.
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