Right. I need assistance with how to store/freeze/etc large quantities of homemade food. Please help me!

[taintedsnow]

I'm talking about soups mainly, which I'm planning on making in the slow cooker and using over the course of the week. Also things like ratatouille, etc. All vegetarian meals so no meat issues at all.

I feel completely stupid that I've never figured out how to do this, but I've never made in bulk before and would like to start doing so.

How long can I store vegetable soups for? If I use them within a week, can I chill them or should I freeze them?

TIA for any help, I feel so stupid asking such basic questions!

I freeze in individual or double portion sizes into freezer bags which makes it easy and quick to defrost - easy to label as well so you know what you're defrosting :o

I'd only keep fresh vegetable soup for a few days in the fridge - I'd just freeze as well in freezer bags.

Plastic milk cartons - clean obviously! - are good for freezing soups and liquidy stuff.

Ooh some great ideas! Thank you!

Must remember to label....could be rather interesting otherwise!

How would you 'reuse'? Do you defrost then heat, or can you stick them in the microwave or cooker frozen? Am I right in thinking you can keep frozen stuff for a month or more?

Can you tell I'm a bulk cooking virgin?!

you can do both depending on how organised you are - I'd aim to keep it for about a month or so - wouldn't do any harm to keep for three months or so though.

Start a tupperware collection - old ice cream tubs or pasta sauce pots do the job just as well.

In the fridge, a week is probably a safe limit (but just use your nose - it'll be very clear if it has gone off). Beyond a week, better to freeze.

Defrosting over 24 hours in the fridge is probably the best approach, or for a shorter time at room temperature. Then you heat it up in the oven, or hob, depending what it is. Slow, thorough heating is the way to go, make sure everything is piping hot.

You can defrost in the microwave if you are short of time, but you have to do it slowly (at 30% or 50% power) and keep stirring/chipping the ice, which can be a bit laborious.

Frozen food can be kept for up to a year, although it does start to degrade after a while (it won't harm you, it just gets a bit "fridge-flavoured").

Have fun! Just frozen 6 portions of turkey soup to see me through work lunches, feels very virtuous!

Oh you are wonderful people, thank you for your help! Taking a trip to Tesco tomorrow to stock up on ingredients. :)

Lakeland Soup and Sauce bags are brilliant as they are maliable so if you are short on space, you will be able to fit more in than with tubs etc. I swear by mine (and they will go in the microwave too!)!