How to freeze sour cream? 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.”
Assemble casseroles in freezer-safe and ovenproof dishes (glass and ceramic dishes tend to work best) and seal with several layers of plastic wrap and foil, or with an airtight lid to keep out as much air as possible. For the best defrosting results, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then cook in the oven. Of course, if you forget to thaw and want to bake from frozen, make sure you freeze your casseroles in freezer-to-ovenproof baking dishes (such as foil, as most glass or ceramic dishes will crack). Don’t forget to remove any plastic wrap on your casseroles before baking (yes, I’ve done that!).
Can you freeze cheese? Can you freeze cookies? What about lunch meat? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, this post is for you! The biggest part of shelf cooking is using the food that you have and not being wasteful, obviously. But what about when you have food in your refrigerator or on your counter that’s going to go bad before you can eat it? Or what if the store is having a craaazy sale on something like avocados (because those things aren’t cheap and you better JUMP on those sales!), but you’ll never be able to eat them all before they go bad? Freezer Meals – Lasagna, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, taco casserole, chili, you get the gist! Read additional details on Can You Freeze Cabbage.
That said, the USDA recommends these steps: If a food has been thawed in the refrigerator safely, you can refreeze it, as long as it’s within three to four days since thawing. Food that was thawed and then cooked is safe to refreeze. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the fridge for longer than two hours. If you’re in temperatures above 90 degrees F, the USDA puts that time window at one hour. Previously frozen meat, poultry, or fish purchased from the store can be refrozen as long as it’s been handled safely and hasn’t been at room temperature for more than that two-hour period. With safety procedures and good habits in place, you can make the most of your freezer as a go-to place for healthy foods. With a well-stocked space, you may even be able to stretch out the time between shopping rounds.