Batch cooking- plastic bags

[2021ishere2021]

Hello

I have bought some biodegradable plastic freezer bags, I find they don't fit as snug as the old fashioned plastic freezer bags.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I thought of using old take away containers but clearly they won't be air tight.

Any good suggestions? I try and cut single use plastic out of my life where I can

X

We've always used take-away containers as they can be washed and reused time after time. They work perfectly well. Why do you prefer plastic bags?

I use takeaway containers

I’ve always used takeaway containers for the freezer, they’re great.
I’m not sure what you mean about air tight. Once the lids are on they are air tight?
Do you mean it’s not a vacuum because you can’t get all the air out like you can with a plastic bag? I don’t know why this would be an issue in the freezer.

p.s. a lot of “biodegradable” products are not very environmentally friendly, they breakdown but release lots of toxic chemicals, micro plastics etc at the same time.

To clarify, I meant plastic takeaway containers, not aluminium/paper ones.

I tend to fill my bags with food (I make 7 family dinners in one go) and submerge them in water to get every last bit of air out, before zipping up or putting a knot in the bag. I thought getting the air out was important to prevent freezer burn?

Does putting them in plastic containers not leave air in the top ? unless it is something you can genuinely fill to the top like mash.

I often have containers that after just half full so, yes, there's air at the top. What's the issue with that? The food freezes well and comes out in perfect condition.

I’ve never experienced freezer burn personally.

@Whatalottachocca

I can notice a real quality difference with stews or curry's that have air in. Things like cottage pie work great and I do use old take away containers for those. Maybe I am just super fussy? Or is it that I don't have a great freezer. It was very cheap

Im sorry op but the thought plastic bags full of food like a chilli or casserole or something makes me feel abit sick. I would just use tubs.

of*

@Popcornbetty

Why does it make you feel sick?

You can get reusable silicone bags but I'm not sure whether you'd be blue to exclude the air like you want to.

Blue?? Able!

We have a vacuum sealing machine. My DP has a sous vide because he is pretentious (but oh god, the deliciousness) and we use the vacuum machine for putting things in the freezer. It's good. Maybe using a sledgehammer to crack a nut but works well.

We just use glass Tupperware (the lid is plastic). I prefer the food isn’t frozen in plastic, and then it’s easy to put things like lasagne/ cottage pie to defrost then straight in oven in the container it was frozen in (minus lid).

The IKEA glass containers with lids were very reasonable.

You can get silicone freezer bags which I really like but they are a bit more bulky.

For me they're great as if I'm camping I can actually warm food up in them too

@Caspianberg

This is a very good idea. Same amount of washing up and less waste.

I will need to be more organised with my defrosting but that is no bad thing!