Recipes that Freeze and Reheat Easily

As a college student, I don't have hours on end to dedicate to cooking meals from scratch. And so I've been  trying to find foods that freeze easily and reheat to taste just as fresh as when I first cook it. So coming across this article was a godsend.

"Recipes that Freeze Well" from thekitchn.

Many of you have been asking for more recipes that freeze well, and we're happy to deliver! Making big batches of food and freezing the leftovers is a good way to capitalize on abundant seasonal ingredients, reduce waste, and save time down the road. Below the jump, we have some tips on freezing whole dishes and a round-up of our favorite freezable recipes from the archives.

 

 

Tips for Freezing Pre-made Foods:

• Dishes based on grains, meats, and/or vegetables freeze very well.

• Dishes with milk and other dairy don't tend to freeze very well. If you'll be freezing all or part of a recipe includes dairy, stop cooking and freeze it just before you would add the dairy. Fortunately, the dairy is added toward the end of most recipes, so it's a simple matter to add it in once defrosted.

• Freeze food in serving-sized portions. Not only is this convenient, but smaller portions thaw more quickly.

• Fill the container that you're going to freeze. This prevents freezer burn and saves space in your freezer.

• Don't forget to label everything! After some time in the freezer, it might not be so easy to tell the vegetarian soup apart from the bolognese sauce!

Freezer-Friendly Soups
• Black Bean Soup
• Spring Leek and Lemon Soup
• Pumpkin, Peanut, and Ginger Soup
• Spicy Chickpea Stew

Freezer-Friendly Sauces
• Ratatouille
• Basic Tomato Sauce
• No-Cream Wild Mushroom Sauce
• Lamb Ragu
• Butternut Squash and Coconut Curry

Freezer-Friendly Main Dishes
• No-Boil Chunky Cheese Lasagna
• Homemade Calzones
• Cincinnati Chili
• Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes (freeze the sandwich filling)
• Basil Parmesan Pot Beans

Freezer-Friendly Meat Recipes
Once reheated, these leftovers will likely be too dry to eat on their own. Instead, re-purpose them in soups, sauces, and fillings.
• Slow-cooked Brisket with Onions
• Spice Seared Boneless Leg of Lamp
• Chipotle-Porter Pot Roast