Silicone moulds for freezing sauce in squares
Bolognese, chilli and curry work well frozen in a silicone portion tray as squares, then moved into a bag. For the children’s tea, take out the squares you need.
The FSA says freezing in individual portions will help you defrost only what you need
(Food Standards Agency).
Each maker says what their kit can go in, so check their instructions before you buy and use it.
Ceramic and steel dishes for bigger bakes
For a lasagne when everyone’s home, a dish you wash and use again saves buying foil trays. Check the maker’s instructions before it goes in the freezer, and before it goes from the freezer to the oven.
Need the dish back for Sunday? Bake it, let it cool and portion it into containers.
Reusable containers, all one footprint
Air-tight containers in one footprint, so the freezer packs like a shelf. Clear sides show what’s inside. Get one size for a dinner for all of you and one for a single portion.
The FSA’s advice on stopping freezer burn includes place food in an air-tight container
(Food Standards Agency).
Nomstash labels anyone can read
The dish in big letters, the day it was made and who it feeds. No handwriting, no smudges: crystal clear labels.
The FSA’s freezing basics
Whatever you pack in, these still apply.
-
Cool cooked food at room temperature and put it in the fridge within one to two hours.
cool cooked food at room temperature and place in the fridge within one to two hours
Food Standards Agency -
To stop freezer burn, put food in an air-tight container or wrap it well in freezer bags or freezer wrap.
place food in an air-tight container
wrap it well in freezer bags or freezer wrap
Food Standards Agency -
Label everything that goes in the freezer.
label food you freeze so you don’t end up with Unidentified Frozen Objects (UFOs)
Food Standards Agency
Last checked against the Food Standards Agency page linked here.
Every rule, with all its sources: freezing, defrosting and reheating safely.
Back to basics with what you need to start batch cooking, or see how to pack the freezer so more fits in.
Sources
- Food Standards Agency How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely gov.uk
Last checked . Each quotation on this page was read against the page it links to.