• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Learn how food affects your body. Get Free Nutrition Info Today

the-lean-green-bean-logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Kids
  • Resources
    • Ebooks
    • Food Prep
    • Videos
    • Snack Round-Ups
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • Become An RD
    • Work With Me
  • Search
the-lean-green-bean-logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Kids
  • Resources
    • Ebooks
    • Food Prep
    • Videos
    • Snack Round-Ups
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • Become An RD
    • Work With Me
  • Search

10 Foods That Freeze Well

April 1, 2014 by Lindsay 50 Comments

568 shares
  • Facebook74
  • Twitter
  • Email

Hi Friends!

I didn’t have time to do my food prep this weekend (gasp!)…i know, i know! Oh well, it happens. It did, however, get me thinking about how important the freezer is for weeks like this when I’m too busy to prep food. So, I thought I’d make a list of some foods that freeze well.

Having a well-stocked freezer makes it easy to eat healthy during the week. Here are 10 foods that freeze well. Do some food prep now for easy meals later.

These are things you can make ahead of time, make double batches of, etc and stick in the freezer until you need them!

Here are some ideas for you:

greek black bean burgers

1. Burgers – Whether they’re meat or veggies, burgers freezer really well. You can cook them ahead of time and then let them cool, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze in ziploc bags…then just reheat when you’re ready to eat. Or, you can just form into patties and freeze raw so all you have to do is thaw and cook them.

Try It:  Greek Black Bean Burgers

lasagna{Photo Credit}
2. Casseroles – Not all casseroles are ideal for freezing, but there are definitely plenty of recipes out there that are freezer-friendly! Things like lasagna are great to make ahead of time, freeze and then just warm in the oven on a busy night.

Try It: Healthy Casseroles To Freeze via Eating Well

whole wheat oatmeal pancakes

3. Pancakes & Waffles – These are great to have on hand for busy mornings. Wrap 3-4 pancakes (or however many you want for an individual serving) in saran wrap and freeze in Ziploc bags. In the morning, unwrap and pop them in the toaster or microwave to heat through.

Try it: Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes

sausage lentil & kale soup

4. Soups – Most soups freeze extremely well! Make a double batch of your favorite, let cool completely, then transfer half to a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Store flat to save space in the freezer!

Try it: Spicy Sausage, Lentil & Kale Soup

roasted vegetable sauce

5. Broths & Sauces – Instead of throwing away your veggie scrap, use them to make a batch of veggie broth. Then freeze in 2-4 cup containers and thaw when needed! Got extra tomatoes in the summer? Make some homemade tomato sauce and freeze to use throughout the winter. Add some meat or lentils to make a bolognese or some extra veggies for added nutrients and then all you have to do is cook up some pasta on a busy night, defrost the sauce and dinner is served!

Try it: Crockpot Roasted Vegetable Sauce

pizza dough{Photo Credit}

6. Muffins/Breads/Doughs – Muffins can make a great grab-and-go breakfast or snack- just be sure to choose ones that have some protein and fiber for staying power. Homemade bread is great because you can avoid the long ingredient lists of store-bought breads. Make a couple extra loaves and stick them in the freezer to use in the following weeks. You can also make things like pizza dough ahead of time..then just transfer to the fridge to thaw before homemade pizza night!

Try it: How To Freeze Pizza Dough via The Kitchn

1

7. Energy Balls – These make the perfect snack, and I love keeping them in the freezer. They stay cold and tasty but don’t freeze all the way through so you can’t eat them. My personal favorite combo is 2 cups chopped, pitted dates, 1 1/2 cups almonds, 1/2 cup peanut butter…plus some chia seeds and pumpkin seeds. There are endless combinations out there.

Try it: Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Popcorn Cups

burritos

8. Burritos – You can customize these to be breakfast burritos or more traditional burritos for lunch or dinner. Wrap them individually, then defrost in the microwave for a quick meal!

Try It: Freezer Burritos

herbs{Photo Credit}

9. Fresh herbs – Whether you get fancy and make pesto or simply just need to store a surplus of fresh herbs from the Farmer’s market, ice cube trays make a great vehicle for storing fresh herbs. Spoon the pesto straight into the trays, freeze, then remove and store in an airtight container. For plain herbs, chop well and place a couple tablespoons in each tray. Fill with olive oil or broth and freeze…then just throw the herb cubes into the pan when you’re making a dish that calls for them!

Try it: How To Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil via The Kitchn

beans

10. Beans & Lentils – You can make a whole bag of dried beans or lentils at once, let them cool and then divide them into ziploc bags and store them in the freezer. When you’re ready to use them, smack the bag on the counter a few times to loosen and add directly to whatever you’re making. For best results, undercook them slightly initially and they’ll cook a little more in whatever dish you add them to:

Try it: How To Cook & Freeze Beans 

————

Edited to add: One more that I forgot to include but is certainly worthy of inclusion…COOKIE DOUGH! Whip up a batch of cookie dough, use a cookie scoop and scoop dough onto a baking sheet. Place in the freezer, then store the scoops of dough in an airtight container. When you’re craving cookies, just bake up 3-4 at a time!

Obviously this is not an all-inclusive list. There are LOTS of other things that freeze well and can help you stock your freezer for busy weeks- like meat, veggies etc!

Let’s chat:
What are you favorite food items to freeze? Leave us links!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

If you liked this post, you’ll love my ebook – The Ultimate Guide To Food Prep. It dives into even more detail about how to food prep, troubleshoots common problems and provides tons of tips to make it easier! Click the image below for more details.

The Ultimate Guide To Food Prep Ebook

table talk series
LEARN HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY.

Get my free Table Talk email series where I share bite-sized nutrition information about carbs, protein, and fat, plus bonus information about snacks and sugar!

Enter your email here ...

Filed Under: Food Prep

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LOLZ says

    April 1, 2014 at 6:03 AM

    I was thinking…I hope she has pancakes and waffles to this list. Frozen foods to reheat have become my best friend lately.

    Reply
  2. Kim @ FITsique says

    April 1, 2014 at 6:27 AM

    This is awesome! I am always wondering “I wonder how this would be if I froze some of it?” and then get scared and try to eat it all in a hurry so it doesn’t go bad. I have tried drying out some herbs before and freezing them, but it didn’t work very well so I will try the olive oil trick!

    Reply
  3. Sara @ LovingOnTheRun says

    April 1, 2014 at 6:49 AM

    I love freezing burgers and then pulling them out later! They are always quick and easy to fix and they not only freeze well but they still taste great when you warm them up! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  4. Linz @ Itz Linz says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:06 AM

    the only thing i really freeze is sauces and beans… i need to get better at freezing meals, especially with baby itz so close!! but the problem is, we always eat our leftovers so there is nothing left to freeze! lol

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:49 AM

      haha stock that freezer girlfriend!

      Reply
  5. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:12 AM

    These are so smart!!!! I need to load up my freezer for those nights that are too busy to cook!

    Reply
  6. Maryea {happy healthy mama} says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:20 AM

    I love freezing muffins, pancakes, and French toast for my kids to have on busy mornings. Soups are great, too, but I usually eat them up too quickly. Need to make double batches more often!

    Reply
  7. Jojo @ RunFastEatLots says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:50 AM

    Ooh the herb and oil cubes are a great idea! So convenient. I always waste fresh herbs when I buy them, too, so this is a great way to use up every last bit

    Reply
  8. Amanda @ All Day Active says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:57 AM

    This is SUCH a helpful list! I need a cheat sheet to keep in my recipe binder so I can reference some of the how-to’s of freezing specific things. Such a great way to use up those fresh ingredients that have a short life span. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:48 AM

      glad it helped!

      Reply
  9. Emily says

    April 1, 2014 at 8:50 AM

    Great list! I like to make home made broth and freeze it too. It’s so much cheaper and lower in sodium.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:48 AM

      yes! my fav thing about it is that it’s lower sodium 🙂

      Reply
  10. Dietitian Jess says

    April 1, 2014 at 8:55 AM

    Great ideas, thanks for sharing. I have been experiementing more with lentils lately and I’m going to make a version of your lentil mac and cheese tonight, although the spicy sausage, lentil, and kale soup sounds intriguing too!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:48 AM

      oooh make both 🙂

      Reply
  11. Lisa @ RunWiki says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:01 AM

    I’m freezing, soups, casseroles, pancakes and my family loves frozen cookies, but I hadn’t thought of freezing veggie burgers. I could make a big batch and Rob could take them to work for lunch, and put it in the toaster oven. I haven’t made your greek black bean burgers in a long time- going on the sunday food prep and into the freezer this weekend.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:47 AM

      yes! i like that idea!

      Reply
  12. lindsay says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:07 AM

    you are so smart! i must remember. PINNING!

    Reply
  13. Heather (Where's the Beach) says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:09 AM

    I definitely keep veggie burgers in the freezer most always. Love freezing spaghetti sauce, chili, and soups too. I’ve not tried freezing burritos. Smart idea.

    Reply
  14. She Rocks Fitness says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:17 AM

    I freeze so many things…salmon, steaks, energy balls, baked goods…I also buy a lot of frozen fruits and vegetables now as well. My favorite frozen vegetables are broccoli and string beans. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:47 AM

      ah! vegetables. duh 🙂 good one!

      Reply
  15. Deanna Segrave-Daly says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:35 AM

    Great post! I always freeze pancakes and mini muffins that I usually make on the weekends for my daughter’s lunch/snacks during the week. And pizza dough too 🙂

    Reply
  16. Jody - Fit at 56 says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:49 AM

    I wanted to tweet but saw no tweet button today 🙁 Great list – me cookies!!! 😉

    Reply
  17. Jody - Fit at 56 says

    April 1, 2014 at 9:51 AM

    And now it shows up – tweeted! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

    April 1, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    I love the cookie dough and pancakes/waffles ideas!! I always make large batches of pancakes (since I am just cooking for me), so it would be nice to have a way to save the leftovers.

    Reply
  19. Annette@FitnessPerks says

    April 1, 2014 at 10:39 AM

    This is a GREAT list! I love freezing cookie dough & waffles. I need to do more fresh herbs & protein balls!

    Reply
  20. Elle | ATE says

    April 1, 2014 at 10:43 AM

    Great list! Freezing beans is next on my list of food prep skills to tackle. I need to perfect cooking them first though so they don’t turn to mush. Every attempt has had to be turned into a soup! xo

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:46 AM

      check them wayyy before the time on the bag. i find mine never take even close to that long.

      Reply
  21. Helen says

    April 1, 2014 at 11:34 AM

    Thanks for posting this, Lindsay. Great list.
    I usually freeze the breakfast stuff I make, like banana bread & pancakes, but I should also get into the habit of freezing other foods.

    Reply
  22. JenB says

    April 1, 2014 at 12:39 PM

    My son likes buttermilk syrup … but we only need a little bit of buttermilk (3/4 cup) and then I don’t have much use for the rest. After reading a pinterest tip, we tried freezing the remaining in pre-portioned 3/4 cup amounts, and it’s worked perfectly for preserving it for future syrup making needs.

    I always make double/trip batches of ziti and lasagna and freeze them for easy meals later on.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:46 AM

      oooh nice tip!

      Reply
  23. GiGi Eats Celebrities says

    April 1, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    I love freezing meats and fish! It’s perfect for on the go – it’s like my on the go protein bar 😉

    Reply
  24. Kelly @ Cupcake Kelly's says

    April 1, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    Casseroles, any kind!

    Reply
  25. Brittany @ Barr & Table says

    April 1, 2014 at 5:46 PM

    Currently have 4 out of 10 of these in my freezer right now! Definitely helps for when there aren’t any sales at the grocery store.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 10:46 AM

      yes! total life saver!

      Reply
  26. Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:10 PM

    Great comprehensive list, Lindsay! Love it!

    Reply
  27. Francesca says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:49 PM

    I can attest to the burritos! They sure do…thanks for the idea 🙂

    Reply
  28. Matt @ Runner Savvy says

    April 1, 2014 at 7:58 PM

    I love this post! Sometimes I freeze breakfast sandwiches for a quick morning meal. Better than McDonald’s!

    Reply
  29. The Salonniere @ The Salonniere's Apartments says

    April 2, 2014 at 11:19 AM

    Those herbs-in-an-ice-cube idea are fantastic! Perfect for saving on my leftover herbs…and they’re so expensive when you buy them at the store so double yay on freezing them!

    Reply
  30. Rachel @ Health My Lifestyle says

    April 2, 2014 at 6:31 PM

    Great list! The bean suggestion is super helpful because every time I make black beans I always seem to cook more than the recipe calls. I end up putting the extra in a container in the fridge and forget about them…. until I smell them a week later. Bad black beans are so unpleasant! Now that I know they’ll freeze well, I won’t have to worry about them going to waste!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 9:35 AM

      exactly! makes it so much easier!

      Reply
  31. Marina @ Lazy for Diet says

    April 4, 2014 at 2:39 PM

    Oh, this post was necessary to me! I already froze some products, but news that it is possible to freeze pancakes and bean is great! Why I didn’t know it earlier and spent so many hours for cooking of small portions of bean?! 😀

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      April 8, 2014 at 9:28 AM

      yes! freezing beans is my favorite!

      Reply
  32. Echo says

    April 5, 2014 at 8:03 AM

    Frozen burritos and breakfast sandwiches are a must in our house!

    Reply
  33. Julie @ Girl on the Move says

    April 5, 2014 at 2:15 PM

    Absolutely love this list!

    Reply
  34. Joanne T Ferguson says

    April 6, 2014 at 6:54 AM

    G’day! Always enjoy learning something new!
    Viewed as part of #SITSSharefest!
    Cheers! Joanne

    Reply
  35. JeKaren says

    April 6, 2014 at 2:04 PM

    This is a great list! I am always looking for ways to cut down on my cooking time, especially since I’m usually just cooking for one person.

    #sitssarefest

    Reply
  36. Katie says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:24 PM

    Oh my gosh!!! I am absolutely in love with your page. I am just beginning to meal prep. It gets overwhelming at times. But you break it down… and it makes it so much more enjoyable and fun. THANKS!!!!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      August 6, 2014 at 3:29 PM

      yay! so glad you found me! good luck with food prep. try not to get overwhelmed and remember that every little bit helps!

      Reply
  37. Stuart says

    August 16, 2014 at 3:50 AM

    Ah yes, cookie dough! I was going to say that one. I also make and freeze my own stock into stock cubes using ice cube trays, works well!
    This list was a real eye opener to what I can freeze, as well as the contributions of other posters. Well done! 😉

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      August 18, 2014 at 1:22 PM

      stock is a great idea! i usually freeze mine in a big batch but like the idea of just being able to grab a little bit if needed!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Lindsay Livingston The Lean Green Bean Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

I'm a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

Learn More →

Questions? Comments? Email me: [email protected]

The Lean Green Bean Facebook The Lean Green Bean Instagram The Lean Green Bean Pinterest The Lean Green Bean Twitter The Lean Green Bean Feed
footer-logo
The Lean Green Bean Facebook The Lean Green Bean Instagram The Lean Green Bean Pinterest The Lean Green Bean Twitter The Lean Green Bean Feed
Recipes

Breakfast
Dinner
Snack
Slow Cooker

Kids

Cooking With Kids
Favorite Gifts
Toddler Meals
Indoor Activities

Resources

Easy Packed Lunches for Kids
Dinner Spark
Snack Spark
Ultimate Guide to Food Prep

About

Meet Lindsay
Become an RD
Work with Me

The Lean Green Bean is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Read the full privacy and disclosure policy here.

Copyright © 2022 · The Lean Green Bean

table talk series

Learn how food affects your body.

Get my free Table Talk email series where I share bite-sized nutrition information about carbs, protein, and fat, plus bonus information about snacks and sugar!

[email protected]