freezing WITHOUT (new) plastics

[me&thegals]

No offense taken I do this, too--type exactly what I mean and not always reading it for how other people might take it.

I am one of those glass users and the one who mentioned how much glass I break by overpacking the containers

 

[Beekissed]

Very hard to emote, in writing in this informal forum, isn't it? Sarcasm or self-jesting sometimes come off weird! No bother...it happens to us all!

 

[FarmerChick]

thanks all...don't want to sound nasty...cause heck it is only about glass and freezers...LOL

 

[me&thegals]

Right--we can bring out the big guns for debates about politics, genetic modification and global warming

 

[FarmerChick]

Right--we can bring out the big guns for debates about politics, genetic modification and global warming:lol


******HA HA
the way I type I surely best not get involved in those topics above..HA HA

 

[heatherv]

Karen, aka FarmerChic... just so you know... I'm the same way as you w/ glass 'n such. I break glass constantly... droppping, slipping, etc. I've tried freezing things in glass before.. and a couple times I've just bumped the glass on something taking it out, or putting it in the refrigerator or wherever and the bump has caused it to crack. So I no longer use it b/c I know I'm too high strung to use it! We have moved waaay too many times.. and I always beg someone else to pack my glass stuff b/c I'd break it putting it into the box.

Cassandra, my mom has used the cartons (OJ, MILK, etc) like you're talking about. She uses them to freeze things that are liquidy/runny. (soups, stews, etc)

 

[FarmerChick]

So I no longer use it b/c I know I'm too high strung to use it!

*****heatherv---you described me to a T with this statement..HA HA---we are certainly like in that.

I am glad to hear the milk cartons are good for freezing. When I freeze orange juice I find on sale, I take it out of the carton and put it into a Juicy Juice plastic container or something I saved. I didn't know that the carton was a good freezer use...I just love plastic..LOL...but now I will just free the OJ in the carton and go for broke..HA HA

 

[tortoise]

Dragging up an old thread to pick brains again on ways to avoid using plastic in the freezer.

I'm still using ziplock for ground meat, veggies, and freezer meals. An 8x8" foil pan slides into a gallon ziploc - super easy and not terrible since I re-use both foil and ziploc many times.

I plan to freeze a lot of "zoodles" (blanched spiral cut zucchini). My goal is 100 single serve size packages. I'm not sure how to avoid packing them in a plastic bag.

I may try wrapping ground meat in butcher paper this year. We were packing it in flat rectangles so it would thaw fast ans be easy to stack in the freezer. But new freezer and they slide around too much. And I don't need to worry about thawing meat quick anymore. I'm better at remembering to thaw meat, I started canning meat and always have some on hand, and I have an Instant Pot to save me if nothing else will work. I think packaging ground meat in rolls wrapped in butcher paper would suit me just fine this year.

DH usually freezes whole blanched tomatoes in ziploc bags. Makes me crazy, I hate when he does it because it messes up my meal planning and recipe routine. Maybe I'll convince him to stop and then save some plastic there?

I usually have ziploc bags of "ice" cubes of various kinds in the freezer. 2 kinds of juice cubes right now. I should find something else to put them in. Maybe those red folgers coffee tubs? IDK.

 

[tortoise]

@Mini Horses , I have a chest freezer and an upright. The upright is much better for managing food inventory, IMO. But, with my chest freezer, I use a dry erase marker and keep an inventory on the lid. I have a diagram where I can show the location, including layers, of where everything is. I have a dry erase inventory on my upright too, but it's not a diagram - just a list.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

Great idea @Britesea !