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What else can I stock the freezer up with?

10 replies

Titsalinabumsquash · 30/08/2013 08:41

I'm not after meals as such but things to make meals with.

I have a chest freezer coming and so I've been making stuff and portioning it up every few days to neatly layer into the freezer so I can bask in domestic bliss Grin

So far I have done a huge batch of turtle beans in the slow cooker, to add to chilli, burritos etc, I have this morning (inspired by the pizza thread) made the dough and portioned it into 8 pizza bases and frozen.

I'll probably do a giant Ragu for lasagne/spag Bol.

So what other things can I do?

OP posts:
JamNan · 30/08/2013 09:04

lots of food to be had for free or very cheaply coming into season now like blackberries, plums, apples, spinach, kale etc. all freeze well. I freeze a lot of fruit now to make into jam and chutney later when I have more time.

Big batches of hearty veg soup is also easy and welcome in the winter months. I freeze lots of different pulses (soaked and boiled) ready to add to a dish. Cakes, muffins and scones freeze well. Cut the scones in half before freezing then they thaw quickly under the grill if you toast them.

Nothing beats a homemade sorbet.

I always find it handy to have milk, butter and bread (sliced) in the freezer as a standby if I run out. Also a good idea to have a stock list too.

sharond101 · 30/08/2013 22:04

i have diced leeks, peppers and onions for adding to soups, stews etc. I also have homemade tomato sauce, puff pastry portions, scones and pancakes. I always have bread in the freezer too.

BiddyPop · 30/08/2013 22:33

I tend to have a few chicken breasts and a bag of prawns at all times to throw into things. When I have space, I dice up chicken before freezing it (not all my chick dishes need diced size, but lots do). The same with pork chops, I will sometime dice up some of them before freezing to thaw faster and cook straight from micro thawing.

Homemade stocks. I have seen the idea before as well that, if you don't have enough bones to make a meat stock, freeze the bones until you have more to add to it and enough to make a batch. And then freeze resultant stock, I mostly do it in half or full pint tubs, but I tend to do an ice tray of cubes as well, for when just small amounts are needed.

Scones, fairy cakes, breadcrumbs from leftover bread, a bag of plain stuffing made from more breadcrumbs (fast dinner of stuffed tomatoes is suddenly possible!!). Grated cheese (I saw a recommendation elsewhere onMN this week to grate up the odds and ends of different cheeses and freeze as a mix - I thought that was clever).

Freeze gluts of veg from garden or greengrocer when in season.

Stewed rhubarb, to just heat and serve. Stewed apple, ditto, or more usually to throw into a pie, maybe with a handful of frozen blackberries over the top.

Hm plain tomato sauce, I add the veg when reheating it. Spag Bol sauce is very versatile.

Can't think of anything else at the mo. Enjoy, I'd love a chest freezer.

WilsonFrickett · 31/08/2013 00:54

I always have bread: loaves, pitta and wraps. The loaves I defrost as a oner, but wraps and pitta get toasted or defrosted in the microwave. I freeze milk too. And obviously left overs. And meat and fish.

I freeze parmesan rinds for soup. Chicken carcasses I put in a plastic bag and freeze for the next time I make soup.

Almost everything I make, I freeze half of it - breadcrumbs. Gravy, curry, efc. Coconut milk freezes too mac you only need a half can to make a curry for 2.

I also freeze herbs, wine (occasionally), garlic and chillie.

DistantShip · 31/08/2013 01:07

Placemarking for when our new freezer arrives next week! Some fab ideas so far.

I love the idea of freezing wine, the reality is that it might not happen very often.

Titsalinabumsquash · 31/08/2013 18:35

Lots of great ideas thanks! Smile

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PinkyCheesy · 31/08/2013 22:06

I do most of these things, and also:

Freeze bacon rashers individually on baking sheet then put them all in a bag. Easy to do a quick bacon sarnie for one if the rashers aren't all stuck together!

Ditto cooked meats, eg salami. Put into a sandwich, it will defrost in about 20 mins and keep it cool.

Bags of chopped ham/pancetta to add to omelette or chicken pie or a pasta.

Bags of cooked rice. Chill quickly after cooking, and freeze. Defrosts fast, useful for a quick meal or to add to a soup.

WilsonFrickett · 01/09/2013 10:25

To be honest distant the wine might have just happened the once when I was super-excited about the new freezer Blush

mrspremise · 02/09/2013 11:22

My freezer contains what we call the 'soup library'... portion packs of homemade soups, frozen while laid flat in ziplock bags. Labelled up and easy to flip through. Because they're flat, they defrost in next to no time and provide almost instant meals when I just CBA. Wink Also vote for stock and parmesan rinds; I save the stalks from bunches of parsley in the freezer as well, fab for bouquet garni and for infusing milk for sauces.

schmalex · 02/09/2013 14:17

I dream of living like this! I'm definitely getting a chest freezer when we move house.

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