Freezer Meals

[I Love Bimby!]

Tonight as I packed off heaps of left overs for the freezer I wondered if anyone out there had any "freezer favourites" that you either like to pre-prepare to have ready in the freezer or it's a large amount great for freezng left overs (this might proove a bit more difficult for the larger families  ). And also - are there any meals you have tried which are not freezer friendly?

Here's my list:

Freezer Friendly
Honey Soy Chicken Mini Drumsticks (I coat the chicken with marinade and then freeze ready to cook)
Beef Strog
Spag Bol sauce
Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato
Soups
Turkish Breads (ready to fill for lunch and then toast in the sandwhich press)
Think my two new lamb recipes - the Afghani Lamb and Spinach and the Nepalese Meatballs will be great freezer meals
Thermomixers Chicken Nuggets
Biscuit mix (roll into balls and layer between bakng paper to grab what you need and bake).
Slices
Cakes (especially the large ones that can easily be divided into two smaller tins


Freezer Foe:
Chicken & Cashews

[Salsa Picante]

I have Pizza and Pastasauce in the freezer.

When I prepare lasagne, I always fill two ovenproof dishes, they are metal ones. One is cooked instantly, the other on frozen without being cooked. That works great!

Cooked potatos are a no go for us, only as a supplement in soup, but still not really yummy.

[judydawn]

Good one ILB and one that I will take more notice of in the future. Apart from those you listed, I have successfully frozen and reheated or cooked, salmon patties, rice and spinach pie, enchiladas, quiche, pizzas, moussaka, cottage pie & virtually any casserole.  Mostly though we just eat them on consecutive days to get rid of them but I like to have a full meal in the freezer for unexpected visitors so I will do a batch of something specifically for this purpose.

[cathy79]

Trying to think of what hasn't been mentioned

Freezer Do's
Zucchini Slice - I always make 2 & freeze 1 in smaller containers just right for lunch boxes
Muffins - sweet, savoury, lunch style - anything.
Individual Pies & quiches


Freezer Don'ts
Rissotto - it's passable, but never the quite the same

This reminds me - need to get something out of the freezer for dinner as won't be home from Brisvegas till about 6pm.

[cookie1]

Thanks folks. Those sort of lists are very helpful. If we're unsure it's an easy check.

[brazen20au]

i don't keep a lot in our freezer as i tend not to label it and then forget what it is and then throw it out uneaten 12 months later 

spag bol sauce and the leftovers are fab though

gluten free baking - breads, cakes, biccies etc

and soups for winter lunches

I also found this link for GF freezing you might like ILB http://glutenfreeda.blogspot.com/2009/09/freezing-gluten-free-food.html

[Thermomixer]

Freezer Don'ts
Rissotto - it's passable, but never the quite the same

The secret for risotto - if you want to freeze - only 2/3 cook it then spread onto baking trays to cool very quickly.  Then when it thaws you can add some stock/water and finish off the cooking.

Many restaurants part cook their risotto and cool, then finish for service.

[Thermomixer]

Freezer Foe:
Chicken & Cashews

Is that because of the cashews ?  If so - probably OK to make WITHOUT adding the cashews to the chicken and veg section but place some in with the rice and cook them as a pilaf.

Then take what chicken and veg you don't need and cool (maybe even before it is fully cooked(?) and freeze that for another meal, at which time you can cook rice and cashews in the basket while warming the chicken on top. 

Just a thought - was it the veg that doesn't freeze well?

[riv_mum]

The moroccan lamb freezes well as do most casseroles without rice, pasta or potato.

There is a banana, honey and macadamia cheesecake recipe on my website which is a great desert. Almost like icecream cake.

[Thermomixer]

There is a banana, honey and macadamia cheesecake recipe on my website which is a great desert. Almost like icecream cake.

...which freezes well ?  I assume?

[~Narelle~]

Does icecream count as a meal?

[Salsa Picante]

Narelle:

Why not ?

Oh, I like the hint about the risotto! Thanks for that Thermomixer!

Pasta is mushy after thawing, but when if freeze my uncooked lasagne, that works!

[riv_mum]

Yes thermomixer, it freezes well. Part of the setting process is to actually freeze it rather than putting it in the fridge.

[Tebasile]

i don't keep a lot in our freezer as i tend not to label it and then forget what it is and then throw it out uneaten 12 months later 

Me too 

I have frozen spinat & basil pesto with no cheese, raw pies, frozen herbs & fruit, pretzels & rolls

[faffa_70]

I ALWAYS have biscuit dough in the freezer (I generally spend one day batching out lot after lot  ) though I don't have the time to roll into balls so make them into a log on the Thermomat, wrap and place in the freezer. When ready to use I slice off the rounds and bake away. If I am short for school I can have a batch cooked and cooled in the morning ready to pack in the lunch box. 

The Pork and Tofu meatballs are another staple in my freezer. They freeze really well and I make trays of them at a time. So easy to pull out what you need, sit in the varoma to defrost and then make a sauce in the jug etc and cook the lot