I would like some advice/helpful hints on making a meal( casseroles, lasagna, etc)and then freezing serving size portions. Dh has been working out of town and one ds is currently staying here but works shift work. I have been eating way too much take out, and the expense and calories are starting to add up. Besides that, none of it tastes that good to me anymore. I figured I could make casseroles and freeze serving sizes for ds and I to eat in the evening or take in our lunches. They would also come in handy for dh when he comes home on the weekend....I could spend less time cooking and he would still get a mome cooked meal.
My questions are: would the Rubbermaid/ Tupperware containers work well with freezing
on dishes like casseroles and lasagna...should I bake the dish first and then freeze or vice versa
Any hints, recipies, etc are appreciated : )
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thanks, Cathy
1|1|bake then freeze my girls do this all the time Rubbermaid , ziploc, tupperware containers are all good for this|tollman62|thebossatnight@yahoo.com|21:58:59|02/16/2009|
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you always hear noises in the dark when you work at night 2|1|i wrap mine in plastic wrap then place in either a container or a zippy bag ..............|pussecat|pu55ecat@aol.com|08:43:57|02/17/2009|
i tend to get less freezer burn if i wrap the portions tightly first. hth :)
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3|1|I bake first; and agree with wrap tightly...|couponshelmd|couponshel@comcast.net|08:52:12|02/17/2009|
from what I have read (On monthly cooking sites) it is the air circulation that causes freezer burn. I love to cook more on the weekends when my hubby is home to watch my kids; I make double batches of baked foods and then freeze, as you mentioned, in single serving portions. If I do want a meal for my entire family, I just thaw more portions. It is a great idea to use plastic wrap in addition to a container or "ziploc" to cut down on air getting into your food.
I have read, but I don't take the time to do this... if you are using freezer bags, get as much air out as you can, seal almost closed, insert a straw and suck out the rest of the air; then quickly seal that last bit. The person claimed this gets the last of the air out.
Good luck, we do this for the same reasons you gave :) and normally only have fast food 2 times per month (when my hubby gets a Burger King craving ha ha) and have saved money and time!
Shel 4|1|If anyone has great Recipes, please post them on the Recipe board.|bluh2oeyes|bluh2oeyes@yahoo.com|13:31:46|02/17/2009|
This would be great to share with everyone!
Thanks,
Jennifer in North Carolina...the Tar Heel State
5|2|soccermom has a freezer meal book for sale at her picturetrail link (see her post on Bargains) :) Also, try doing a search at recipe sites like recipezaar.com or allrecipes.com :)|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|14:22:45|02/17/2009|
"Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy." 6|1|I LOVE my freezer (meals) :)|Isha|tm2ewing@sbcglobal.net|15:00:13|02/17/2009|
I freeze tons... I don't have the time for OAMC, but I do big batches every weekend... So for instance this weekend I was making meatloaf, so I made a bunch of meals to freeze... I don't cook everthing before I freeze. This weekend I bought a ton of hamburger meat that was on sale and did:
3 Meatloafs (uncooked)... I don't like the taste of them when they re-heat
3 Casseroles (I'll post the recipe later)
3lbs of cooked and seasoned taco meat
3 batches of chili
3 spagetti sauces
For freezing... I do a form of flash freezing, then food saver them. So for the meatloaf's I put them in the loaf shape then wrap them in tinfoil. Put in freezer for about an hour. Once solid I foodsaver them so they don't burn, and don't lose their shape. Same with the casseroles. I line a dish with tinfoil.. Put in freezer in dish, when solid I pull out the foil and foodsaver. Hope that makes sense.
Next weekend I plan on doing chicken meals.. I just rotate every weekend so I always have tons of meals ready to go... I pull out what I want in the morning and its ready for heating when I get home from work.
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