Dinner Now, Dinner Later: Easy Freezy Leftovers!

On a busy day or a night when I'm suffering a bad migraine, I'm thankful to have pre-made meals that I can prepare in little time and with little effort.

Freezing your leftovers is a simple task, but let me save you some spills by giving you a trick I learned.

For a 2 serving portion, I use quart sized freezer bags. If I'm freezing single serving portions (great for a quick microwaveable lunch!) I use sandwich bags and I group those together inside of a freezer bag. I use gallon sized for anything larger.

Also, I'm a fan of anything off-brand, but these sealable bags are worth the extra pennies. The many times I have used off-brand bags, I have ended up with leaks and busts. Don't take your chances... Ziploc is the way to go!

Before you fill, take a permanent marker and label your bag. If you freeze a lot of meals like I do, you will need a way to decipher what's in the bag weeks down the line when you've forgotten what's in there.

When pouring something liquidy, that bag can become flimsy and hard to manage while also holding a ladle. Open the bag and insert it into a large cup like this.

Be sure to turn the top inside out and let it hang over the cup. This keeps your bag in place and lets you pour without dripping on the "zipper".

After filling, carefully pull the bag out of the cup. (See? No spills on the edge!)

 

Get as much air as you can out of the bag before sealing. This helps keep your food fresh and the freezer burn away.

 

Lay the bag flat for easy storage and stack inside your freezer.

 

Repeat with other delicious meals!

Remember, your frozen dinner will only be as fresh as when you freeze it, so the sooner you get it in there the better it'll be the second time around. Don't hesitate to stick your leftovers in there the day that you make them. More often than not, my meals end up tasting even better after they've been frozen because the flavors have all that time to mesh and mingle.

When you're ready to unfreeze and unwind with your easy pre-made meal, you can do it a few different ways:

1. Let it thaw on its own. I'm too impatient for this, but if you think of it ahead of time, you can take it out of the freezer and let it sit out on the counter or even in the fridge for a few hours.
2. Stick it in some hot water. Keeping it sealed, you can dunk it in a bowl of hot water or in a sink with running hot water.
3. Use your handy dandy microwave. I thaw all of my leftovers just long enough in the microwave to loosen them up. While still in the bag, I break them into icy pieces then pour them into a pot on the stove. I cook it on low until it's the right temperature to eat.

If your leftovers aren't enough to fill you up, pair them with some frozen veggies or baked bread. I keep cans of crescent rolls in my fridge for a fast filler.

It's not rocket science, but I hope this helps you realize the possibilities of cooking at home and how easy it is to prepare for the dinner you'll have days or weeks from now!