Top 10 Freezer Cooking Essentials
It’s true that someone could get started freezer cooking with the very basics of kitchen tools, but it’s always nice to know what “seasoned professionals” like to call their favorite products. While I don’t consider myself to be a “seasoned professional” freezer cooker (I still learn things every day), I do work with some fantastic women who definitely ARE freezer cooking professionals. So, I took a poll and asked them what their favorite tools are. I’ve narrowed it down to a list of ten, and oh, don’t worry, my favorite all time kitchen “tool” is on the list too!
10. Ovenware
This ovenware is perfect for freezer cooking. It goes from refrigerator to freezer to oven to microwave. And, it’s even dishwasher safe.
9. Good Knives and a Cutting Board (or 10!)
Good cutlery is very important in making your cooking day easy and safe. Sharp knives glide through food more easily, reducing the effort that you have to put forth, which in turn reduces mistakes. I also like to have good cutting boards, and more than one out so that I can grab one for chicken, one for beef, one for vegetables, etc. to avoid cross contamination.
8. A Large Stockpot
A large stockpot is great to use when making soups or broths. It will allow multiple batches (however many your pot is large enough to hold) to be made at a time – a definite time saver.
7. A Large Saute Pan
Great for browning large quantities of meat, or letting a dish simmer while you are busy working on another.
6. Digital Kitchen Timer
Sure, we all can use the timer function on our microwaves, but what if you have three different things going at the same time? Having more than one timer (and labeling them with what you are cooking!) helps take care of the confusion and potential of losing a meal because of improper cooking times.
5. Foodsaver
This is a great tool for making cool things like Homemade Yogurt Tubes (you can even fill them with your own homemade yogurt)! The Foodsaver is one of those items that is definitely not necessary, but very helpful in helping to keep frozen food fresh and free of freezer burn.
4. Food Processor
I just received my first “real” food processor for Christmas this year, and let me just say – I don’t know how I’ve lived all of these years without it. It is fabulous! I have this very one (in red, swoon). It is so versatile and makes prep work for freezer cooking a breeze.
3. Plastic Freezer Bag Holder
I did some freezer cooking today, and there is no way that I would have been able to get one of the dishes finished without my husband here to hold the bag open while I filled it. This product eliminates the problem of not having someone here to help me if I am cooking by myself. Definitely one of those “why didn’t I think of that” products!
2. Muffin Tins
Most people use their muffins tins just for, well…….muffins. But they are so much more versatile than that. They are extremely helpful for freezing individual portions of broth, soup, or pretty much anything you can fit in them. Usually always helpful to borrow a couple extra on your cooking day to have one ready to go while another is in the oven.
1. Slow Cooker
Ok, ok, this just isn’t my favorite freezer cooking tool, it is my favorite kitchen tool, EVER! In any given week, I throw something in the slow cooker at least two nights. A slow cooker is handy when freezer cooking because it can cook chicken overnight (the night before your big cooking day). You can also make your own rotisserie chicken and brown ground beef in a slow cooker! It’s so versatile! And, my favorite freezer meals are the ones that are Easy Assembly on cooking day, then are thawed and thrown in the slow cooker – doesn’t get any easier than that.
So, there you have it – a list of 10 great items that we love to make your freezer cooking days a little easier! Do you love an item that helps you with freezer cooking that’s not on our list? Tell us about it!
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I have a timer like this one: http://www.vat19.com/dvds/doneright-5-in-1-kitchen-timer.cfm
LOVE it. It looks like a stove/oven — each stove burner is a timer, as is the oven, so you can “match up” the timer to the appropriate burner. Makes it easier to figure out what’s done.
Is that the type of food saver you recommend? I need to get one but I don’t know what kind is the best.
Yes it’s our favorite.
Personally, I would prefer a timer that will also count UP. While developing a new recipe or planning a method for freezing, I like to know how long it took to do the work as I do it.
A great price for a high-quality large saute pan! If you’d like one with a glass lid, Calphalon tri-ply stainless has a nice one, although almost twice the price.