I often devote one afternoon on the weekend to cooking two meals for the week, and prepare my weekly shopping list at the same time. Make sure your freezer bag is made to go into the microwave if you plan to finish thawing there, but do not cook in the freezer bag. If I commit to a meal in the morning, I’m much less tempted to hit the drive-through on my way home. I like to stick my frozen bags in the refrigerator right before I leave for work. Do NOT thaw foods at room temperature. Food safety is your first priority.Do not stack freezer bags until frozen. They’ll freeze faster and more thoroughly if separated.Package the food in the portion size you will serve it in. I often divide it up, freeze a small meal to take to the office and then freeze enough for another family dinner down the road.But make sure they are freezer bags - not just storage bags - to reduce freezer burn. Use freezer bags. Bags lie flat in the freezer, can be labeled easily, and will thaw faster.It is also OK to refrigerate foods while they’re still warm. Cool foods slightly at room temperature before freezing. Place the dish on a cooling rack to allow air to circulate around the pan for 20 to 30 minutes.
#Freez drive ed food full
If that sounds familiar, and if the idea of having a freezer full of home-cooked meals is enticing to you, I have a few simple tricks to help stretch the meal and the budget at the same time. The only way I can survive is by planning ahead. It’s that time of year I find myself dropping kids off at after-school activities, coming home late from work and trying to get a good meal on the table.