I have a FoodSaver now and want to really start freezing lots of stuff when I can find stuff on sale (is there any other way to buy??).

What I don't want is to freeze something that shouldn't be frozen, and end up wasting money when I thaw it and have to throw it away.

So, I know you can freeze meats, veggies (if prepared right, right??), breads...

What else do you freeze? What freezes WELL? And how do you prepare your foods for freezing?

Things that freeze well...lasagna, meat loaf, beans, soup (without the noodles).

I make big batches of pancakes and freeze those. Just put them on a single layer on a cookie sheet. then when the are frozen you can put them in freezer bags ect...

In my experience I don't think potato dishes freeze well, or dishes with sauce or gravy, and pasta, you really have to undercook it or it will be mushy. The only exception to the pasta is Lasagna, I make that up using uncooked noodles and then bake it when I take it out of the freezer.

Check out some freezer cooking sites:
Freezer Cooking Information ...

DInners in the Freezer - Family Recipes

Have fun

I make sauce with meatballs once a month and store it in my freezer along with minestrone soup, pea soup, sauce with Italian sausage, just to name a few. I also make a large pot of Pasta Fagioli (not totally the Italian version, but DH LOVES it so) and I freeze it without the pasta.

Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Recipe @ CDKitchen.com :: it's what's cooking online!

Cooked rice
Blanched Zucchini, Garden Tomatoes, Carrots, Peas, Green Beans
Meat Balls
Veggie Soup *home made*
Chicken Fried Rice
Blueberries
Home made pancakes*Waffles
Cooked Bacon
Chopped Onion
Chopped Bell Peppers
Corn on the Cob*with Husks* Or Blanch then freeze
Jalepenos

veggies can be frozen unprepared? But it is convinient to cut them before freezing.

I cut the chicken before freezing too sometimes.

You can also freeze milk. but you have to open it up and pour some out before freezing.

fruits can be frozen and tossed into blender for smoothie and I have done it but heard from someone else it is like putting rocks in the blender and I shouldn't do it so who knows....

We freeze all kinds of stuff in my house!

Lots of soups and casseroles.

I freeze alot of meatballs a few times a year. Usually when I make my Albondigas soup, I make a few dozen extra and freeze them.

Tamale Pie freezes very well, as does lasagna with uncooked noodles, chicken and rice casserole etc

Cooked potatoes dont usually freeze too well.....Even if they are in a soup...my Albondigas comes out funky is I put potatos in the portion I freeze.

I freeze cheese

one of the tricks for the foodsaver...is to freeze your items flat...lets say shrimp. peel them..then place them on a plastic plate..freeze them..then pop them off and then vacuum them...that way you dont have juices running into your machine. This works for pasta sauce or fruit juice or any juicy item.

I LOVE my foodsaver!! I cook a large batch of brown rice (the kind that takes 40 minuets) and freeze it in serving size portions.

?? Can I freeze carrots..DD eats them 2x a day and I'd rather freeze fresh if possible..And I never thought of freezing rice..How do you defrost & reheat?

Carrots freeze fine, but they must be blanched first.
Freezing Carrots

I cook up brown rice all the time and then freeze it in serving size vacuum-seal bags for later. It just takes a couple minutes in the microwave to heat up (just like any other food item).

I freeze taco meat, sloppy joe meat, pretty much any hamburger based meat mix...

I even freeze them in single serve packs... I live alone so this works well for me.. However some of you guys this may not work well for if you have many mouths to feed..

CARRIEMB2 CARRIEMB2 is online now

Cheese? Ok this may sound stupid but all kinds of cheese? I"ve never done it but it would help if I could.

Thanks,

Hard or semi-hard cheese can be frozen if cut in one half to one pound blocks. Wrap in plastic wrap and then put in freezer bags. After freezing, cheese may become crumbly and mealy, but, it will retain its flavor. It works best for cooking.

Plan to use frozen cheese within 4 to 6 months. Thaw cheese in the refrigerator. Use soon after thawing.

The cheeses that freeze best are:

* Brick
* Camembert
* Cheddar
* Edam
* Mozzarella
* Muenster
* Parmesan
* Provolone
* Romano
* Swiss

Blue cheeses are more prone to becoming crumbly but they'll still taste good. Cream cheese and cottage cheese do not freeze well.
Freezing Cheese

I make large batches of chili and freeze it. Turns out very well.