Kitchen

[Pickwickpapers]

Such good ideas...... I usually only freeze meats and veggies but all of your ideas were so good I may start trying to freeze my own homemade dinners for those times when I can't cook.

[KateChopin]

I don't like to freeze pasta so much, but I do freeze soups, chili, meatballs, meatloaf, Italian rainbow cookies, and cake.

[chickadee]

Individual portions of meats. And also homemade stock/bone broth. And the stuff to make the broth, lol. I prefer to buy bone-in meats, and save the bones in Ziploc bags in the freezer (beef bones in one, chicken in another, etc). I also save up the usable odds and ends from the veggies I cut up for other meals, and freeze those as well. They don't have to be pretty or prepped if they are just going to be tossed in a pot to flavor broth later.

I don't like to waste anything if I can help it, so if I don't think I'll use it up before it goes bad, I'll find a way to preserve it. I've even frozen eggs, lol.

[Annabellethecat66]

lasagna, sauces, hamburgers

[Moonlady]

On 2/6/2014 darkpoet said:

I freeze a lot! I cook large quantities of rice (usually brown) and freeze it in one or two cup sizes to make casseroles. I also freeze lentils and beans. I freeze homemade cookie dough. I freeze cookies that I bake! I freeze pumpkin pie! I freeze fruit when I buy a lot of in-season fruit.

I buy a lot of frozen veggies and fruits, too. I try to buy organic when I can. As long as they aren't overcooked, they taste great! They are usually quick and easy to fix. Dress them up with herbs or a touch of parmesan. I have found this to be economical and healthy. I like to buy fresh of course, but it can get costly. So I buy fresh and frozen.

Yes to the pumpkin pie. I started doing this a few years ago and can't believe it took me that long to try it. Wegmans always has prepared pumpkin pies, and I love to freeze them (I usually run a knife through to slice into 8 portions first. That way, the frozen crust won't crack). They're perfect to have on hand for company or when DH and I want something sweet with our coffee.

[willdob3]

On 2/9/2014 BonnieBelle said:

On 2/3/2014 willdob3 said:

I may be an exception to the rule... I really don't like to freeze anything other than raw meat/poultry/fish. That kind of thing. I usually cook enough for one meal only though I sometimes have leftovers from cooking a whole chicken or turkey breast. Those go in the fridge & get eaten up quickly.

I don't eat processed foods & can't even remember the last time I bought frozen vegetables.

Same here. I don't freeze anything except raw meat. All leftovers go in the fridge and we eat them within a day or two. I always keep my refrigerator cleaned out, I don't like things laying in there.

We must be related! My refrigerator aways looks pretty empty.

[pattypeep]

I prefer to freeze my meats before using because I read that freezing is the best way to kill bacteria ~ I'm especially concerned about pork.

[chickenbutt]

On 2/9/2014 twopeas said:

I prefer to freeze my meats before using because I read that freezing is the best way to kill bacteria ~ I'm especially concerned about pork.

I tend to think the same way. I know that freezing doesn't kill ALL bacteria. But then ALL bacteria isn't on the meat on any given day. But I figure freezing it first gives me some coverage. Often when I buy a meat product for use in the next couple of days I still put it right in the freezer, then take it back out later on that day.

I also freeze, or par-freeze, meat before I vacuum seal it. That allows the opening up of the fibers that occurs during the freezing process and a better seal when vac sealing.