Freezing is a highly economical way of preserving food. It also saves you a great deal of time if you’re willing to put aside some hours to cook bulk meals and stow them away for the coming weeks. Remember that fable about the grasshopper and the ant? A little planning ahead of time goes a long way!
Here’s my favorite storage container for freezing food. Check it out at Amazon.
| Best Containers for Freezing Leftovers | Why We Like It |
|---|---|
| 1. Ziploc Freezer Bags | good for a budget; prevent freezer burn |
| 2. Reynold’s Wrap Aluminum Foil (200 sq. ft.) | good for a budget; prevents freezer burn |
| 3. Silicone Storage Reusable Food Preservation Bags | washable and reusable; good for a budget |
| 4. Frigoverre Glass Storage Containers | go from freezer to oven with no problem |
| 5. Ball 16 Ounce Plastic Jars | great for storing summer fruits and smaller portions of leftovers |
| 6. Rubbermaid FreezerBlox Set | durable; designed to fit neatly in freezer |
The Dos and Don’ts
Certain food types aren’t great for freezing. Eggs, watery vegetables (such as lettuce or cucumber), and many dairy products (plain yogurt, low-fat cream cheese, single cream, and cottage cheese) will all perish in the icy environment of your freezer. As such, any recipe including one or some of these ingredients is unlikely unsuitable for this method of storage.
But, there are plenty of foods that are ideal for freezing. Butter or margarine can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. Grated cheese is good for about 4 months. Bread is also great for freezing, and sliced bread can be toasted while still frozen.
Ice cream, of course, does splendidly.
If you are considering freezing an entire meal, there are a few rough guidelines to follow. First, if it’s a meat dish, it’s important to ensure that the meat is cooked fully. Despite the cold temperatures, bacteria from uncooked meat is still dangerous when you thaw and heat up the food.
Power-Saving Considerations
A fully-stocked freezer is more efficient than a low-stocked one. This is because the cold air needs to circulate less in a full freezing unit, saving on the energy required to ensure your food is completely frozen. Keep this in mind as you choose various types of containers and packaging, as you want to maximally utilize the space.
Soft Containers
Many people use plastic zipper storage bags. These are highly convenient to stack and are easily labeled. It’s important that they are fully sealed and wrapped—otherwise, you run the risk of the food getting freezer burn. Most brands come with a blank labeling space on the front. While it may seem a nuisance at the time, this is important. After 4 months of sitting in the freezer, you may not remember what it is! You should also date everything because, despite being frozen, foods will not remain fit for consumption forever.
Ziploc Freezer Bags
My favorite type of these freezer bags comes from Ziploc. A household name known for easy, effective storage bags, they do just as well in the freezer too! They’re designed to protect against freezer burn and have an easy open tab (which is incredibly important as many bags can be difficult to open after being frozen shut). They’re also cost-effective to boot. Just be sure not to store anything that could easily get squished in these, so they don’t offer much structure or protection for food.
Reynold’s Wrap Aluminum Foil (200 sq. ft.)
Aluminum foil or plastic wrap is also good for preventing freezer burn, particularly for cooked meats, cookie dough, and bread. Obviously, a bolognese or a sauce-based food is not going to work with foil or wrap, but solids are totally suited to these.
Silicone Storage Reusable Food Preservation Bags
You can also check out the unique option of silicone storage bags for your freezer. The main advantage here is that they’re more environmentally and more cost-effective. Since they’re washable, you only have to buy them once, and you can reuse them over and over!
These bags are also airtight and leakproof (unlike other soft storage options). The silicone is also food-grade and free of any contaminants, so you know it’s safe for food storage. They’re also temperature resistant, meaning you can throw them in the microwave after they’re out of the freezer, or even into boiling water.
Rigid Containers
How long will those berries last if you freeze them right? Here’s how to do it right.
For bigger dishes, such as lasagna or bolognese, use rigid containers. These stack up well, making for a more economically-run freezer. Glass or plastic containers with a sealable lid are the most ideal and can be picked up for relatively cheap.
Frigoverre Glass Storage Containers
The Frigoverre Glass Storage Containers are some of the best you can get. They’re inexpensive and have reliable lids that won’t burst open as the food expands (which does happen during freezing). They also come in a series of small, medium, and large sizes, so you have the option of freezing individual portion sizes or entire dishes.
These containers will last a lifetime and they stack away quite neatly, so, at a low price for the set, you can be assured you’re making a great purchase.
The best thing about glass containers is that you can cook your dish in the oven with them if they are suited to extreme temperatures. There’s no need to transfer food into another dish. You just let it cool, put the lid on, label it, and freeze it. No muss, no fuss, and no ruining the aesthetics of your lasagna (let’s not mess up those perfectly-arranged homemade noodles).
Ball 16 Ounce Plastic Jars
Another option is the Freezable Plastic Jars from Ball. These are great for storing smaller portions of dishes like curries or casseroles. They’re also great containers for summer fruits. It’s wonderful to get the family out to pick raspberries, knowing you can freeze them for the off-season.
See the Ball Plastic 16-Ounce Freezer Jars at Amazon
As these containers are easily organized in your freezer, you can efficiently stack them up. Finally, at a super low price point, this is a simple and useful purchase—one you won’t be able to live without!
Rubbermaid FreezerBlox Set
Another great rigid freezer container option comes from Rubbermaid. Their “Freezerblox” set comes with two 1.9 cup containers, two 3.8 cup containers, a 4.5-cup container, and a 10.4-cup container, along with lids for each. They’re especially durable and designed to fit and organize any freezer space.
Find the Rubbermaid FreezerBlox Set at Amazon.
While they are plastic, which is a disadvantage compared to easy to transfer glass containers, they are still microwave and dishwasher safe, and BPA free, so this is still a great budget purchase if you don’t want to splurge on the glass material.
Even more containers!
To learn about using vacuum-sealed bags, check out the article on the best vacuum sealers for fish and game.
What about tea bags? Here are my top solutions for storing your tea bags.
