Choosing the Best Freezer Cooking Recipes

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This is the second post in Creative Savings' freezer cooking series. Last week, we talked about Styles of Freezer Cooking, and you can find all posts in the series listed on the introduction page.

Today I want to go over some basic tips to prepare for a full day in the kitchen. That means starting with the absolute essentials of freezer cooking – the right recipes!

Recipes can truly make or break your freezer cooking day. You could end up with a fabulous meal that tastes fresh, or find a freezer burned mess that absolutely no one wants to eat.

Here are some tips to make each freezer cooking recipe you choose a success!

1. Understand what can, and cannot be frozen

Basic research on Google will tell you what types of foods are freezer-friendly, and which ones are not so much. This is important, because you don't want to waste money on making food that just won't freeze well. 

Here is a list of 31 items that you can freeze, including a few surprises like milk and eggs. Who knew?

Likewise, here is a list of what not to freeze. Although, if you read closely, some of the same items end up on both lists. Hmmm….I guess you will just have to experiment for yourself!

2. Decide on no more than 5 recipes

You might only want to pick 2 or 3 recipes, but if you're feeling really ambitious, cap it at 5. Any more than that and you will be completely overwhelmed.

I was so excited to start freezer cooking, that I wanted to make anything and everything. If that sounds like you, be conscious about setting limits.

This also isn't the time to be trying a bunch of new recipes either. What happens if you don't like them? You'll be eating them for months. Make recipes you know your family loves, and experiment with those first.

Of course, there's always an exception…like the cinnamon rolls I tried from Money Saving Mom. You really can't go wrong there.

3. Pick recipes that have a theme, or a similar ingredient

If you're making breads, casseroles, soups, desserts, and breakfast-type foods, you're going to wear yourself out! Not to mention buying, and using a ton of ingredients.

By creating a theme, you limit yourself to ingredients within that theme.

For example, if you choose to freezer cook with bread-like products, you could make sandwich bread, cinnamon rolls, waffles, pancakes, and/or monkey bread, all on the same day.

Flour, yeast, and sugar will be your main staples, which makes it a lot easier to stock up on just those  ingredients, rather than buy 20 different ones.

4. Package for ultimate freshness

Whatever you make, you should have a general idea of how to package food to maintain the freshest taste. I've rarely had a problem with freezer burn, and I truly believe it's because of the packaging.

This is how most of my meals are stored:

• Sandwich breads are sliced, then wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
• Casseroles are made in 8×8 or 9×13 glass dishes, then topped with plastic wrap and foil. If you don't have enough pans, foil dishes work great too.
• Seasonal fruits and veggies {and applesauce!} are put into empty cool whip containers, and stack really nicely.
• Freezer jams, broth, and homemade soup are put into leftover glass jars.
• Rolls, muffins, shredded chicken, cheese, pizza dough, and just about everything else gets put into freezer bags. Depending on the type of food, you might need to flash freeze first. 

Note: Up & Up {Target} freezer bags just don't seem to work very well, so I like to stick with Ziploc and stock up with coupons. I've never had a problem since!

All freezer foods should be eaten within 3-6 months, but with some items like jams and fruits, you can freeze up to 1 year. Although, if I'm being really honest, I've certainly eaten homemade applesauce after its been frozen for longer than that….and it still tasted amazing.

The more you practice, the more you will figure out which recipes will soon become your favorites to freeze, and which ones should stay as fresh as possible. You could even start a binder full of favorite freezer recipes, along with good-to-know tips, and freezer expiration dates.

Just have fun with it, and you'll soon see the benefits freezer cooking can have on your family. You'll never go back!

Do you have a favorite freezer-friendly recipe?

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.