Author Topic: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic  (Read 3584 times)

Northern gal

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Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« on: December 19, 2016, 04:40:46 PM »
I slow cook meals and then freeze them in stackable plastic bags.
Like so (attached).
I'm now getting worried about all the crap that could leach up of plastic and into my food over the weeks or months. The bags are bpa free but I guess bpa is just the tip of the ice berg.

Does anyone know of containers that would be equally space saving and plastic free (glass or stainless steel I guess)? Everything I could find was clunky

Catbert

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2016, 07:14:36 PM »
I use glass pyrex containers.  They definitely take up more space than plastic bags, however.  If you go that way be sure to get a lot of the same size/shape.  Using random different shaped containers will use up even more space.

GreenSheep

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2016, 08:13:59 PM »
+1 for Pyrex. (They do have plastic lids, but I make sure to not fill to the top, even when accounting for expansion while freezing.) I also use Mason jars for some things. I do still use plastic for solid things (granola bars, etc.) that are wrapped in parchment paper first. I haven't found anything as space-saving as plastic bags, but I've given up trying to save space in favor of not having plastic all over my food.

Sailor Sam

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2016, 08:20:14 PM »
I freeze individual servings in pyrex bowls. Once frozen, I pop them out and store the disks in gallon sized freezer bags. When I want to use the for lunch, I just slide the frozen disk back into the container it was originally frozen in.

There's still plastic bags involved, but the only time the food touches the plastic is during the frozen stage. I figure it maximizes space while still minimizing damage.

birdie55

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2016, 09:32:41 PM »
I use pint canning jars to freeze soups and chilis.  Maybe that would work for you. 

sparkytheop

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2016, 09:46:13 PM »
I freeze individual servings in pyrex bowls. Once frozen, I pop them out and store the disks in gallon sized freezer bags. When I want to use the for lunch, I just slide the frozen disk back into the container it was originally frozen in.

There's still plastic bags involved, but the only time the food touches the plastic is during the frozen stage. I figure it maximizes space while still minimizing damage.

To go along with this... if you didn't want the food touching the plastic in the bag, you could wrap it in foil or butcher paper after it's frozen for another layer of protection.  On a whim, I wrapped some lasagna (cooked and cut into individual servings) in foil then popped them into a bag.  They kept much better that way than they had in just a bag or wrapped in saran wrap.

m8547

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2016, 10:44:54 PM »
You could use disposable aluminum trays. They are cheap and come in various sizes.

Retire-Canada

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2016, 05:16:26 PM »
I'm now getting worried about all the crap that could leach up of plastic and into my food over the weeks or months.

Leeching is a concern at higher temperatures. Personally I wouldn't be worried about frozen meals as long as you aren't reheating in the plastic.

Cativa

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2016, 05:29:59 PM »
+1 for glass/pyrex

I'm not one who worries too much about plastic, but I hate one-use items and I'm not good about washing ziplocks.

Rural

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2016, 09:51:47 PM »
Mason jars.

Johnez

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2016, 02:26:46 AM »
These (link) are what I got when they were a third off a few weeks ago. Love em. I waited till they were on sale to buy 8 because I wanted them specifically for meal prep and didn't want an 18 piece set with 2 of every size cluttering up my kitchen. It is quite difficult to find a quality set of glass containers of the same size for meal prep. They are a tad bulky, don't think there's any way around that, all same size does help with that.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2016, 02:41:17 AM by Johnez »

MandalayVA

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Re: Bulk cooked freezer meal containers that are not plastic
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2016, 06:10:39 AM »
Another vote for Snapware.  I bought the set after Mrs. Frugalwoods raved about hers, and I love it.  We don't use the containers a lot to freeze, but for storing food in the fridge and bringing lunch to work they're the bomb.