Can you freeze spaghetti? Did you go a little nuts in the early days of COVID-19, and now you’re staring down meat, veggies and dairy in your freezer that are months old? Don’t worry, these days many of us are buying food in bulk to reduce trips to the store due to the virus. Freezing is one of the best ways to extend the shelf life of some foods and combat food waste. But if frozen improperly or for too long, you could be in for an icy reception months later. “Putting dates on food stored in the freezer takes the guess work out,” Jacobs said. “It also helps you follow the ‘first in, first out’ rule so you utilize older food items first.”
To prevent pieces from freezing together (and for freezing delicate fruits like berries), spread the pieces out in a single layer on a plastic wrap-lined sheet pan. Once they are fully frozen, transfer the pieces to your container and place it immediately in the freezer. With this method, any ice films form around each individual piece, rather than freezing all the pieces together in a big chunk. Many nights if I am making a lasagna or baked ziti, instead of making one, I make two: one to eat right away and one to freeze later on. Cook once, eat twice. It’s the same amount of work and you will be happy to have a casserole prepared on those busy nights. It’s also great to have a made-ahead dish on hand when you want to bring something to someone who’s sick or having a baby.
Pro Tip: When freezing any liquid, leave room for expansion. You don’t want an explosion in your freezer! Leave at least a half-inch or more of space at the top of your container. This one is probably a big ole duh to you, but you can freeze both raw and cooked meat. We like to buy meat in bulk, cook it, and then freeze in smaller, meal-sized portions. It makes dinner prep super easy on those busy nights! Beef – A vacuum sealer will save your wallet and keep your raw meat from getting freezer burn. They’re totally worth the investment! You can also pre-cook ground meat to make dinner go quicker and easier. Chicken – Freeze chicken as soon as you bring it home or cook it before you forget about it! You can freeze grilled and shredded chicken for easy meal prep. See additional details at Can You Freeze Watermelon.
Thaw in cold water This method takes about 20 to 30 minutes per pound of food. As the USDA points out, make sure to use waterproof packaging, change the water every 30 minutes, and keep the water at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below the entire time. Thaw in the refrigerator This is by far the easiest and safest way to thaw frozen food, but it takes the longest. Depending on the fare, it can take 24 hours per pound of food. Do: Refreeze Properly When it comes to refreezing foods that have previously been frozen and then thawed, a good rule of thumb is to avoid it when you can, because the moisture that’s lost through the initial thawing process will affect food quality, says Hutchings.