Ready to start some freezer cooking? It can save you quite a bit of money when you take advantage of bulk buying and having meals prepared ahead of time. Here are some basic freezer cooking tips that you can use to get started.
Go Easy on the Spices
Some spices can change or grow stronger when placed in the freezer. Make sure to season lightly. You can usually add more spices when reheating.
Know How to Reheat
Some foods, especially dairy, may separate when frozen. This usually isn’t a problem if you keep sauces separate from the other parts of the meal and reheat them in a saucepan, for example. Knowing exactly how to reheat or cook a freezer item can make all the difference.
Wrap Well
Some freezer cooks swear by food sealers, some by freezer paper and others by freezer bags. Whatever your method, wrap your items well and try to get out as much air as possible before you freeze something.
“Sticky” Foods Should be Flash Frozen First
If you have items such as peas, blueberries or even slices of meat loaf that might stick together when frozen, lay them first on a cookie sheet or jelly role pan so they can freeze for about 20 minutes without touching. Then you can place them all in a bag, a container or a wrap, and they won’t stick together
Label Your Food
Proper labeling can make a big difference in freezer cooking. When you know what you have frozen and even the reheating instructions, you are more likely to actually use it. Don’t rely on memory alone. I also add the date a meal is frozen to help keep my inventory fresh. Use a permanent marker, so your labels won’t get smudged.
Do you have any great how to freezer cook tips?
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.
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