So today is all about the freezer. I love my freezer - not the one that's attached to my refrigerator, the one that's in the garage. The refrigerator's freezer stores the ice maker, ice packs, butter, yeast and veggies. That's the problem with side-by-sides (in my opinion) - they just don't hold much. I do a lot of make ahead and batch cooking and a lot of baking. I store flour, baked goods, sauces, meats and poultry and already made meals in the freezer - the one in the garage. Today, because I'm cleaning out my freezer, I'm going to share my top three freezer tips with you. Hopefully they make your mealtime and shopping a little easier.
TIP #1: Make meals last - if you have to cook, you might as well cook extra and toss the extra in the freezer. I use 8x8 pans for casseroles, lasagnas, enchiladas..... instead of making one 9x13 pan, I use 2 - 8x8 pans. We eat one meal for dinner and the other gets to hang out in the freezer. If you have a larger family, double the recipe and make 2 - 9x13 pans.
TIP #2: Make muffins or quick breads with your kids, spouse, or by yourself at least once a week. Keep half of the batch in the refrigerator for a quick breakfast or lunch during the week and put the other half batch in the freezer for later or giveaway to a friend or neighbor. Home baked goods are sooo much cheaper and better for you too. (Our go-to favorites? Banana, Almond Poppyseed and Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip muffins.)
TIP #3: Always have ground beef, chicken, and/or fish in the freezer for a quick, healthy meal. Stock up when meat is on sale. Ground beef can be scrambled ahead of time and frozen without losing its yumminess. I make chicken ahead of time too and cube or shred it for recipes to be made later. My favorite way to make chicken to freeze is to buy skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts. Salt and pepper all over and wrap in parchment paper and then in foil - wrap it all up tightly and bake at 425degrees for about an hour. This shreds and cubes up really nicely - it's juicy because of it being sort of steamed in the parchment paper. Mmmmm.
Do you have a favorite freezer tip?
On to the side-by-side freezer.....
Before:
Step 1: Set timer for 15 minutes
Step 2: Empty the freezer - the entire thing
Step 3: Quickly sort food into two groups (toss and keep)
Step 4: Spray down shelves with Basic H2 (all-purpose formulation) and wipe clean with a rag - remove door bins and wash with soapy water in the sink.
Step 5: Put everything back - concentrating on keeping food in zones.
Time's Up!
Cookie dough freezes too - I sometimes make a double batch and freeze half. Then, if there's a bake sale or a friend or neighbor I'd like to give homemade cookies to, I can take out the dough and bake it up the night before.
ReplyDeleteErin-
ReplyDeleteLove the cookie dough idea - I'm going to put that on my to-freeze list :)
I just stumbled across your blog somehow, and i think it is meant to be! I really need to clean all of these areas in my house, so I am definately going to participate!
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this, can't wait to follow along!
Oh, and i am a midwest lady too!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome, Monica!
ReplyDeleteCookie dough for freezing should be a recipe that calls for double-acting baking powder as its leavening agent. I made a gigantic batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that rely on just baking soda (a single-action leavener) and they just spread out into pancakes on the pan. Boohoo!
ReplyDeleteSharon H. in IL