Batch cooking containers

[pinkyponkyplink]

What do you store family meals in for the freezer?
We are a family of 4. Hoping to start batch cooking next week but the containers on Amazon look small.

I use yoghurt pots. I weigh the portions, there only two of us.

ziploc freezer bags then I can stack them or glass containers from Amazon

I like those foil containers like Chinese takeaways use, both the smaller and longer ones depending on the dish, I generally find one container serves two.

I know these sort of deli containers are popular, the round shape is slightly less space efficient for the freezer, but they are stackable, reusable, varying sizes, and all use the same lid.

We use click.and seal freezer bags from.tesco. and stack them in the freezer

Pour 'n' Store bags

Square or oblong tupperware or plastic containers

lakeland 10 Stack a Boxes Food Storage Containers 750ml – Dishwasher Microwave & Freezer Friendly https://amzn.eu/d/btyAglH

These are great. I also have some smaller two portion ones and one portion ones (for when I have smaller amount of leftovers).

I use glass containers with plastic lids.

Oh mine are a mix of Pyrex and Aldi.

I use Home Bargains' foil trays. The 12 pack is 99p (I think) and they're the perfect size for a single portion.

For me it all depends on what Im cooking and the reheating method so I use a selection of container - the tin foil ones - Chinese size and the larger pie sized one, reused Chinese take out plastic container, Ikea ziplock bags

I'd like to batch cook bolognaise, lasagne and d cottage pie etc. would I just freeze the meat part or can I actually freeze a cottage pie with mash on top ready to go.

If you can buy a ready made frozen version then you can do it yourself at home too. 🙂

And how do you stop frozen meals going watery?

I freeze the lot - spag Bol with pasta
Cottage pie with mash
Curry with rice

I use the IKEA food bags / they take up a lot less room in the freezer

We tend to freeze the sauces separately e.g. bolognese, curry, chilli and then make the pasta, rice, etc when required. The exception is lasagne and then it's made up and cooked and then portioned into plastic tubs.

For freezing batch cooking I am moving from using the Chinese foil single portion containers because I don’t want aluminium leaching into my food. I want to avoid plastic containers also. I wasn’t sure what size of container I would need - the alum foil single portion containers are 415ml I think. So I would likely need to source 500ml glass containers because you’re not suppose to fill the container to the top if freezing. There aren’t all that many 500ml glass containers available surprisingly - most are 600ml or above, or else around 400ml. They will still take up more room in the freezer than the foil containers unfortunately.

I read in a previous thread that someone uses masking tape and a sharpie for labelling their meals and the tape removes easily afterwords.

would love to hear any single portion freezer to oven glass container reccs that works well for others, in addition to the family size containers the original poster is looking for.

I use these…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Souper-Cubes-Extra-Large-Silicone-Freezer/dp/B0BT2R8RV2/ref=sr_1_10?adgrpid=164765393910&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Cju6J5TsnwjQPeoWPUmCPMOVnXrxyr9hoJloRoU3wJfpHmfmhaxD_ab57_cXfyipRnLPBiX2CcCo5uZjXDRafm_pQG2rOCNQp7XoIG1Zvwm-mZl_brzZB9YBVOxHuJYcq2BjFjTikkwyhvhSqTJ-CdhiRXGY_SM6JE1FAUrZRrUjqCMCJ1j2ysxxWDOYoSf_D6yXzeNhgxHLLzsw-zvCW9I47NL34L6UYh1nW7708gLbXKfn0HMeZB89I-UwYXGpIhi55S1WIu_PEvkjzhHzLoIvLSafmJfG5zYTN-ypoTSZWTQGXgpmerD3vQy4lMIngF6aNspQO2z8Hm-FGlc9FZcT-bZC6LprLmIiplxaCUYgz9Z21-shcoPLia7zCwebSymGEn6fHKLY4gYzuXuA5z4x9A83CvGcKP0QjNjLsRkdmRrariz_1xiY7JWIhNEz.99y7O3TU6lSA232rYlRqhssJZy-bH_Bida86t9PAAAY&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=696301419279&hvdev=c&hvexpln=69&hvlocphy=1006668&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=6348916055242522664--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6348916055242522664&hvtargid=kwd-418375451969&hydadcr=15090_2304454&keywords=souper%2Bcubes&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1734650712&sr=8-10&th=1

…Then I defrost (and subsequently cook) in these…

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/ikea-365-food-container-square-glass-00359206/

Lock and lock containers. The lids are excellent. You can take soup to work in one of their tubs and it won't leak on the way. They're also rectangular and various sizes which makes it easy to use space in the freezer efficiently.