Freezing Meals

[GlutenGalAZ]

Hi.

I have been baking a lot of breakfast type meals for a while now and make of course dinner/lunches for that day. I was wanting to try to make some easy meals to start out with and freeze them.

I am not a big soup person or chicken but was wondering if anyone has any pointers or suggestions for freezing meals and what some easier ones are to start off with??

It is just my husband and I but some nights we do fend for yourself night (normally when we are too tired to make a meal type dinner and have stuff to get done after work) so it would be neat/nice to make some easy stuff up on the weekend to freeze and then I can just take it out and defrost/reheat up. Or even stuff for two people.

Any pointers on:

*Freezing meals

*Or any suggestions on easy meals to make is greatly appreciated =)

Thanks!!

[missy'smom]

This is what I have on hand right now: add steamed fresh or frozen veg and potato product(think Ore-Ida) or rice or pasta to complete the meal

meatloaf-cooked in individual freeform loaves in a glass pie plate or other dish or use an icecream scoop and plop and bakin in muffin tins

chicken nuggets, strips or thin cut or butterflied and pounded breasts-uncooked-place on a parchment or waxed paper lined baking tray and frozen until firm enough to transfer to containers or plastic bags

browned and seasoned taco meat

homemade soups in individual portion size containers(garden tomatoes are bountiful right now so I have roasted tomato soup)

from time to time I have cooked sweet and sour or italian meatballs and layered tortilla casseroles(layer your favorite combo of enchilada sauce, cheese, spanish rice, southwestern veg. or corn, black or reg. refried beans and tortillas(I use 3) in a small round or square casserole-freeze unbaked and microwave or oven bake.

I like the white pyrex oval individual freezer, oven, microwave safe dishes with lids or the deep rounds

[purple]

I don't need to freeze for the ones at home but I freeze for my gluten-free dd that moved into an apartment. So far the only thing she doesn't like frozen is cornbread on top of a casserole...soggy. And tinkyada curly noodles in Alfredo sauce...soggy.

I freeze:

meat or fruit mini pot pies

spaghetti

lasagna

enchiladas

meats for tacos/nachos-beef or chicken

bbq chicken mix

sloppy joe mix

chili

minestrone soup

stirfrys

sweet and sour chicken and rice

cooked rice

pizza slices, crust

beans and rice

cookies, cake brownies and muffins

waffles(for us)

tortillas

gluten-free hamburger buns and bread slices

cooked hamburger patties (raw for us)

extra egg whites for baking

onions and chopped peppers for casseroles

bananas, berries, peaches for smoothies

diced ham and fried bacon for soups, casseroles or breakfast

shredded cheeses into sandwich size baggies

leftovers

Most anything. I put my dd's entrees into a ziploc bag then a plastic container. All she has to do is cut open the bag and put the entree into a glass dish to microwave. You need to label the food with the item and date or you may not use it later on and you can rotate easier. Bags of cooked hamburger with or without veggies is always nice to have in the freezer. Double wrap everything and if you can put it in clear stackable square containers so you can see what it is without digging through the freezer.

[Juliebove]

I don't freeze a lot of stuff, but... I used to cook up chicken breasts and freeze them for daughter's lunch. Then I found chicken breast already seasoned and in a pouch. She loves them so no more of that.

For a time there I was big into taco salads. So I would freeze seasoned taco meat in individual portions. When it came time to eat, I would put the meat in a large bowl, microwave then add my toppings for an upside down salad.

[GlutenGalAZ]

WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPLIES

Little overwhelmed but very excited to print this off and try some of them out. There are soooo many really good ideas

Silly Questions....

If I am going to freeze Taco Meat, Meatloaf, pretty much anything with ground beef

*You cook it and let it cool then freeze right?

Or are you making it and not cooking it then freezing?

We have never really been that good with defrosting frozen meat so we normally get it and use it within a couple of days.

*When you freeze the meal you made with ground beef do you tend to defrost it in the refrigerator or just put it in a pan or microwave to heat up?

Thank you!

[purple]

WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPLIES

Little overwhelmed but very excited to print this off and try some of them out. There are soooo many really good ideas

Silly Questions....

If I am going to freeze Taco Meat, Meatloaf, pretty much anything with ground beef

*You cook it and let it cool then freeze right?

Or are you making it and not cooking it then freezing?

We have never really been that good with defrosting frozen meat so we normally get it and use it within a couple of days.

*When you freeze the meal you made with ground beef do you tend to defrost it in the refrigerator or just put it in a pan or microwave to heat up?

Thank you!

Meats- cook and freeze.

You can microwave frozen food w/o defrosting. If you are not in a hurry and would rather not use the microwave, you can just heat it on low in a pan with a lid, stirring often. I add a little water. Spaghetti, soups or taco meat would heat well this way but not pot pies or layered foods, just foods you can stir. You can also take it out of the freezer the night before to thaw. Take frozen entrees to work.

[GlutenGalAZ]

Meats- cook and freeze.

You can microwave frozen food w/o defrosting. If you are not in a hurry and would rather not use the microwave, you can just heat it on low in a pan with a lid, stirring often. I add a little water. Spaghetti, soups or taco meat would heat well this way but not pot pies or layered foods, just foods you can stir. You can also take it out of the freezer the night before to thaw. Take frozen entrees to work.

Thank you Purple for the info. I told my husband and now he wants to help make stuff to freeze and taco meat too yummm. Thanks again!

[purple]

Thank you Purple for the info. I told my husband and now he wants to help make stuff to freeze and taco meat too yummm. Thanks again!

You are welcome! Anything to help make life easier!

One thing I like to do with my cooked ground beef is to drain off the fat into a can (like the refried bean can, then toss it) or a bowl (wipe out with a paper towel after it hardens) then rinse the meat in a colander. Put the meat back into the pan and then add the seasonings. It gets rid of all that grease. Ever eat a taco withe grease running down your arm? ...eeww...