freezing Shepherd's pie etc

[traceyinrosso]

I have a mega busy run up to Christmas at work and was wondering if I should cook ahead this weekend. How do you freeze things like Shepherd's pie and spag bolognese ie what type of container and do you defrost before cooking or any recipes safe to cook from frozen ? All tips gratefully received !

I use whatever plastic container is to hand (old takeaway pots, old ice cream tubs) or the ovenware it's baked in if it's shepherd's pie.

You could also put the food into freezer bags and then into a square container, which means that when the food is frozen you lift the bag out of the box and you can re-use the box (and the frozen bags stack in the freezer)

I usually defrost before cooking by leaving them out for the day to thaw, but seeing as it's already been cooked I'm not at all averse to bunging things straight into the microwave to defrost or reheat (I don't know if this is 'advised')

Thanks I was just worried freezing in a glass casserole dish might crack it but obviously not. How do you cover the top if you put the dish in - tin foil ?

As long as you let it cool thoroughly before freezing it should be fine (and then warm up before you stick it in to reheat)!

If I put the dish in the freezer I just wrap it up in foil or cling film :)

Just make sure the glass dish is a freezer safe one.