Freezing Food

[shell96]

Hi. Can anyone advise on the following. My baby is due in 6 weeks and i'm trying to get very organised by cooking and freezing food so that in the first few weeks of having baby i dont have to worry about cooking - can just defrost and reheat (DH would prefer we survive on takeaways but he not getting a choice! ). I have a few questions about what is freezer friendly or not.

1. I often make pies topped with a mashed potato and vegetable (carrot, turnip, parsnip, etc). Can i make these and then freeze the whole thing or should i just freeze the filling and add mashed veg top fresh? Can i freeze mashed tatties & veg?

2. I sometimes add creme fraiche to a gravy to make a creamy sauce (eg. for chicken and leek pie). Is it safe to freeze a sauce with creme fraiche in it or will it split/go off/etc?

Thanks!

I've frozen sheppards pies with and without mash and they've been fine. Does depend on the potatoes I think as some are more watery and therefore not great for mashing. To be honest you'll be more glad you don't have to do anything than worry about wether you're eating slop

I've also frozen cheese sauces and they do look a bit lumpy and seperate a bit when defrosted but taste absolutely fine when used in fish pie or with chicken and leeks etc.

If you're freezing veg seperately i chopped carrots or whatever I think you need to blanch first so it maybe easier to just buy a bag of frozen veg.

HTH and good luck, wish I'd been so organsised first time around.

I freeze pies with mashed toppings, been no problems so far. AfaIk, yes you can freeze mash & veg. I always do after a roast dinner

Sauces I freeze as well, they do look a bit lumpy as ginger says but, whisk them back up a bit as you re-heat & mine have always been fine.

I'd buy a bag of frozen veg as well, makes life easier than chopping, blanching & then freezing

Enjoy your baby xx

Thanks very much for that. Looks like i can get started then. Just waiting for my ebay purchased foil takeaway food trays to arrive...

I've never been so organised before and no doubt as soon as the baby arrives all organisation will vanish!!