If you make meals ahead of time and freeze them...

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

what do you make/freeze them in?

DS wants to eat dinner literally as soon as we walk in the door, so I need to get some stuff in the freezer that I can quickly reheat for him when we get home.

I want to make some casseroles and freeze them in individual portions, but I also want to freeze whole casseroles for the weekend (when DH is home to join us for dinner). What do I cook the whole casseroles in that I can freeze?

TIA!

kcl22 · December 2011

If I'm freezing individual portions (like burritos or meatballs) I use aluminum foil. If I'm freezing a meal I cook it in one of those thin, disposable aluminum pans and freeze it right in that.

Hesterlicious · December 2011

When ds ate less I has snack cups from the dollar store that made perfect portion sizes. Now I do the small rectangular glad or ziploc containers. I just warm them in water long enough to get the food out and thaw it in the microwave.

ETA: I guess this only applies to precooked foods.

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

kcl22:
If I'm freezing individual portions (like burritos or meatballs) I use aluminum foil. If I'm freezing a meal I cook it in one of those thin, disposable aluminum pans and freeze it right in that.

Do you know if there is anything reusable that I can freeze the whole meal in? I'm cheap and don't want to have to buy disposable ones all the time

melody921 · December 2011

If it's individual portions, I freeze in plastic ziploc containers. If I'm freezing an entire casserole, I cook it in disposable aluminum pans, cover the whole thing with foil and freeze.

sarajo317 · December 2011

JKat876:
kcl22:
If I'm freezing individual portions (like burritos or meatballs) I use aluminum foil. If I'm freezing a meal I cook it in one of those thin, disposable aluminum pans and freeze it right in that.
Do you know if there is anything reusable that I can freeze the whole meal in? I'm cheap and don't want to have to buy disposable ones all the time

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-40-Piece-Easy-Find-Lid-Food-Storage-Set/8832667

I have that set and LOVE it!

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

heckysue:
JKat876:
kcl22:
If I'm freezing individual portions (like burritos or meatballs) I use aluminum foil. If I'm freezing a meal I cook it in one of those thin, disposable aluminum pans and freeze it right in that.
Do you know if there is anything reusable that I can freeze the whole meal in? I'm cheap and don't want to have to buy disposable ones all the time
I haven't done it yet but you can actually freeze in glass. When I have the $ to invest in them I'm totally going to buy freezer-safe glassware.
For now I also use foil pans. They're not that expensive.

God I'm stupid. Is all glass freezer safe glass?

I have a ton of glass dishes from my mom that just sit and collect dust. lol. I'd love to actually be able to use them!!

Most of the time I think I will be freezing individual portions in small containers, but I'd like to have a few whole meals ready too

kcl22 · December 2011

JKat876:
kcl22:
If I'm freezing individual portions (like burritos or meatballs) I use aluminum foil. If I'm freezing a meal I cook it in one of those thin, disposable aluminum pans and freeze it right in that.
Do you know if there is anything reusable that I can freeze the whole meal in? I'm cheap and don't want to have to buy disposable ones all the time

I don't blame you; I have a few glass casserole dishes that I love and they come with plastic tops which make them perfect for freezing but I don't freeze meals often so I just use the throw aways.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Grip-3-Quart-Rectangular-Baking/dp/B0011E75U2/ref=sr_1_7?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1322848077&sr=1-7

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

kcl22:
JKat876:
kcl22:
If I'm freezing individual portions (like burritos or meatballs) I use aluminum foil. If I'm freezing a meal I cook it in one of those thin, disposable aluminum pans and freeze it right in that.
Do you know if there is anything reusable that I can freeze the whole meal in? I'm cheap and don't want to have to buy disposable ones all the time
I don't blame you; I have a few glass casserole dishes that I love and they come with plastic tops which make them perfect for freezing but I don't freeze meals often so I just use the throw aways.
https://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Grip-3-Quart-Rectangular-Baking/dp/B0011E75U2/ref=sr_1_7?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1322848077&sr=1-7

Awesome-thank you! I've been SO terrible at cooking recently, I really want to have decent meals for DS/DH to eat. I'm pretty sure the only way this will happen is if I cook one day on the weekend and freeze stuff.

kcl22 · December 2011

You're welcome! I keep saying I'm going to do that and then fail miserably. I do usually cook more in the winter so maybe this time I'll stick with it =o)

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

kcl22:
You're welcome! I keep saying I'm going to do that and then fail miserably. I do usually cook more in the winter so maybe this time I'll stick with it =o)

I usually cook exclusively with my crockpot. I fail at any other kind of cooking. With Ryan wanting to eat dinner as we walk in the door, I feel like all he's had to eat is meatballs, chicken nuggets and veggies for the past 2 weeks.

So I'm forcing myself to do it-I've been saying I should do it for a while too!

aforst · December 2011

I'm loving this thread and saving some of those links for X-mas gift ideas. I was just telling DH the other night that I feel like I don't cook as much as I used to. It really just seems to be in the last couple months. I honestly think it's b/c DS2 is like your DS. As soon as I get home, he wants to eat. If I even try to cook something, he either cries the whole time, or I have to hold him over with raisins and crackers and then he won't eat his dinner! My DH also has school 2 nights a week and I rarely cook those nights. Like you said, he ends up eating hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pb&j EVERY NIGHT.

So, I'm wondering, can you give me some ideas on the food you are planning to cook and freeze? Big Smile

MrsWindyCity · December 2011

You can buy those disposable foil baking dishes or what I do more frequently is line a regular baking pan with plastic wrap or foil, and then assemble the casserole. Flash freeze it for like an hour-ish. Then, pop the casserole out using the wrap/foil, wrap, and insert into a plastic freezer bag (this will only work if you are making an 8x8 or similar size). That way you don't have baking dishes in your freezer, and I think a ziplock has a tighter seal than the lids that come with the disposable baking dishes.

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

aforst:
I'm loving this thread and saving some of those links for X-mas gift ideas. I was just telling DH the other night that I feel like I don't cook as much as I used to. It really just seems to be in the last couple months. I honestly think it's b/c DS2 is like your DS. As soon as I get home, he wants to eat. If I even try to cook something, he either cries the whole time, or I have to hold him over with raisins and crackers and then he won't eat his dinner! My DH also has school 2 nights a week and I rarely cook those nights. Like you said, he ends up eating hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pb&j EVERY NIGHT.

So, I'm wondering, can you give me some ideas on the food you are planning to cook and freeze?

That's so my LO too!! Here are a couple I want to try:

this

this you need to scroll way down to find it-its the creamy chicken and broccoli, although she has a few that look good!

I've got a ton of chicken to use up!

kcl22 · December 2011

MrsWindyCity:
You can buy those disposable foil baking dishes or what I do more frequently is line a regular baking pan with plastic wrap or foil, and then assemble the casserole. Flash freeze it for like an hour-ish. Then, pop the casserole out using the wrap/foil, wrap, and insert into a plastic freezer bag (this will only work if you are making an 8x8 or similar size). That way you don't have baking dishes in your freezer, and I think a ziplock has a tighter seal than the lids that come with the disposable baking dishes.

Listen to her. She is wise.

KoalaBear103 · December 2011

kcl22:
MrsWindyCity:
You can buy those disposable foil baking dishes or what I do more frequently is line a regular baking pan with plastic wrap or foil, and then assemble the casserole. Flash freeze it for like an hour-ish. Then, pop the casserole out using the wrap/foil, wrap, and insert into a plastic freezer bag (this will only work if you are making an 8x8 or similar size). That way you don't have baking dishes in your freezer, and I think a ziplock has a tighter seal than the lids that come with the disposable baking dishes.

Listen to her. She is wise.

TRUTH!

Thanks-I think I'll try this!!

kcl22 · December 2011

aforst:

I'm loving this thread and saving some of those links for X-mas gift ideas. I was just telling DH the other night that I feel like I don't cook as much as I used to. It really just seems to be in the last couple months. I honestly think it's b/c DS2 is like your DS. As soon as I get home, he wants to eat. If I even try to cook something, he either cries the whole time, or I have to hold him over with raisins and crackers and then he won't eat his dinner! My DH also has school 2 nights a week and I rarely cook those nights. Like you said, he ends up eating hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pb&j EVERY NIGHT.

So, I'm wondering, can you give me some ideas on the food you are planning to cook and freeze?

I gave this in another thread earlier but it's seriously my current favorite meal and it's great heated up. https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baked-pasta-with-sausage-tomatoes-cheese-10000000549971/