75 Freezer-Friendly Recipes to Keep Your Freezer and Tummy Full All Winter Long (2024)

FAQs

How to make meals ahead of time and freeze? ›

Best Choices for Make-Ahead Freezer Meals

Tops on the easy-to-freeze list are all kinds of casseroles, meatballs, meatloaf, pasta sauces, and soup, stew, and chili recipes. A smart way to stock your freezer with make-ahead meals is to double a recipe to make a big batch and freeze half for later.

Soups, stews, lasagna, empanadas, and pie dough are some of our favorites to freeze—check out more ideas below.

To freeze your food quickly, expose as much surface area as possible to cold freezer air. Distribute foods you're trying to freeze (like meatballs) on sheet trays, then transfer them to freezer bags. Freeze soup in multiple freezer bags, not one large container.

If you're not planning on eating a meal before you pop it in the freezer, leave it a little 'al dente' so when you reheat the taste and texture will be perfect. For foods like lasagna or casseroles, don't bake the dish after assembly. Freeze raw and then you can cook fresh when you're ready.

"Generally speaking, anything that has dairy, or a very high water content, is not going to do well when frozen," Patel says. "Freezing these ingredients—or recipes that feature these ingredients up front and center—is going to be disappointing."

How long can you freeze homemade baby food? You can store baby food in the freezer for up to six months. I recommend storing in an airtight container with minimal air or headspace. For optimal taste, quality and nutrient retention, consume frozen baby food within 1-3 months.

Pureed store-bought baby vegetables and fruits can stay in the refrigerator for up to 48 to 72 hours and in the freezer for 6 to 8 months. Pureed store-bought meat, poultry, or fish can be refrigerated for 24 hours after cooking and frozen for 1 to 2 months.

How long do TV dinners last in the freezer? ›

Freezer Meals are way healthier than commercially prepared frozen or packaged foods, ordering in, or chowing down on snacks because you don't have anything prepared! I know that life can be hectic, and it is impossible to find the time to make meals from scratch every night.

Using containers: Divide cooled leftovers among plastic containers, leaving enough room at the top for swelling. Cover with plastic wrap (this helps prevent freezer burner), then the lid. Label and date top and side of container. Using sealable bags: Place sealable place in a bowl to help stabilise.

The short answer is this: most food items will keep 3-6 months if wrapped and stored properly. Of course, if you're anything like me, you enjoy “cooking” from the freezer so much that meals are barely kept for more than a month before they get eaten!

Food should be completely cooled before freezing – actually, it is even better if you allow it to fully cool down in the fridge first and then freeze. If you store a bag or container with hot food along with an already frozen one, it might defrost slightly, creating a safety breach.

Store ready-meals in the fridge unless the pack says you can freeze them. Store prepared convenience foods in the fridge unless instructions are given for freezing. To be sure, always check instructions when you buy prepared convenience food.