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.
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:
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
{Photo Credit}Try It: Healthy Casseroles To Freeze via Eating Well
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
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
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
{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
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
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
{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
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
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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–
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I was thinking…I hope she has pancakes and waffles to this list. Frozen foods to reheat have become my best friend lately.
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!
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 🙂
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
haha stock that freezer girlfriend!
These are so smart!!!! I need to load up my freezer for those nights that are too busy to cook!
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!
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
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. 🙂
glad it helped!
Great list! I like to make home made broth and freeze it too. It’s so much cheaper and lower in sodium.
yes! my fav thing about it is that it’s lower sodium 🙂
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!
oooh make both 🙂
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.
yes! i like that idea!
you are so smart! i must remember. PINNING!
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.
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. 🙂
ah! vegetables. duh 🙂 good one!
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 🙂
I wanted to tweet but saw no tweet button today 🙁 Great list – me cookies!!! 😉
And now it shows up – tweeted! 🙂
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.
This is a GREAT list! I love freezing cookie dough & waffles. I need to do more fresh herbs & protein balls!
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
check them wayyy before the time on the bag. i find mine never take even close to that long.
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.
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.
oooh nice tip!
I love freezing meats and fish! It’s perfect for on the go – it’s like my on the go protein bar 😉
Casseroles, any kind!
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.
yes! total life saver!
Great comprehensive list, Lindsay! Love it!
I can attest to the burritos! They sure do…thanks for the idea 🙂
I love this post! Sometimes I freeze breakfast sandwiches for a quick morning meal. Better than McDonald’s!
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!
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!
exactly! makes it so much easier!
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?! 😀
yes! freezing beans is my favorite!
Frozen burritos and breakfast sandwiches are a must in our house!
Absolutely love this list!
G’day! Always enjoy learning something new!
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Cheers! Joanne
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
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!!!!
yay! so glad you found me! good luck with food prep. try not to get overwhelmed and remember that every little bit helps!
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! 😉
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!