I’ve been wanting to write this post for some time after I saw it on Mark Sisson’s blog (I seem to be inspired a lot by him this week). After making some offal meatloaf and freezing the remaining portions, I decided to take the plunge. I hear so often that people don’t have time to eat healthy (that is just one lame excuse, there is also kids, money, etc. etc. yada yada blah blah blah. Just say you like being fat/you’re lazy/you don’t want to live a long life and move on- sorry that may have been harsh but really it’s the truth I’m just not a fan of sugar-coating, maybe I’m more like my father than I thought). Take one day, one evening, make some meals and freeze them. You know what the best thing is? If you freeze individual portions, it works out better (now you’re not over consuming either!). Here are some of Mark’s tips for freezing:
- Food must be completely cooled before freezing it
- Freezing food in small portions helps it freeze quickly, which maintains good flavor and texture
- Freezer wrap (thick paper with a moisture-resistant coating) works well for wrapping solid food. Plastic freezer bags work well to store all kinds of frozen food because they take up less room in the freezer than containers and are easy to label.
- If using freezer bags, remove all the air from the bag before sealing
- Always label the contents and date it was made
- Most cooked food tastes best if eaten within 3 months of being frozen
- Usually, the best place to defrost food before re-heating it is in the refrigerator
- Reheating food that is still frozen and hasn’t been defrosted often takes double it’s regular cooking time in a 350 degree F oven
- Food safety regulations recommend re-heating frozen food to an internal temperature of 165 F before eating it
You can freeze meals (like cabbage lasagna) or soups (like cheeseburger soup, these are great because all you have to do is reheat in a saucepan and magically you have a meal). Freezer food is so popular and convenient, why not have a little pride and health-consciousness by making your own. Here are some recipes that I think may be freezer fun:
- Egg muffins
- Pumpkin Waffles for the Munchkins (beats Egg-O’s any day)
- Bread sticksor Pizza Crust
- Cauliflower Rice
- Meatloaf
- Cheeseburger Soup
- Spinach Brownies
- Cabbage Lasagna
- Hamburger Casserole
- Salmon Cakes
