freezing food from the crock pot

[Guest guest]

Hi! 

 

    I hope you enjoy your crock-pot.  If you make enough to freeze, it is good

to cool down and refrigerate the food before you pack it into containers to

freeze.  DON'T just put a large, full container of HOT food into the freezer

directly! 

 

     When you put the food into contaiers--you can use " FREEZER " - type (they are

thicker) zip-bags (like Ziploc or Glad-Lock or One-Zip's), and just put the food

in and push out as much air from the bag as you can.  Getting air into a

container is more likely to encourage freezer burn, speaking from my own

experiences.

 

      You can use small containers--like the ones called " Glad-Ware " or

Tupperware or (I use) simple store-brand " disposable " plastic freezer containers

with lids.  Leave a little space at the top--don't fill them clear up to the

top, but leave about 1/2 " or so, so that when it freezes, the food has room to

expand and not pop the lid off.  I've occasionally over-filled containers by

accident, only to go back to the freezer later and find the lid has come off. 

The food freezes and, it pushes up and expands in the container and when the lid

comes off, the frozen food in the container can get badly freezer-burnt and

dried out.

 

      If you want to be REALLY fresh with the frozen food, you can also put a

layer of something like " Press-N-Seal " wrap just over the top of the food

itself--you have to push out air bubbles under it, and you have to leave enough

wrap to lap over the edges of the container, even when the lid is on--it has to

be pressed down into the container, so as to not let any air (ir possible) into

where the food is.  When you open it up, it's like those " freshness seals " that

some foods come with from the store; you peel the Press-N-Seal off before you

take the food out, of course!

 

    Last of all, make sure you make some kind of label or marking on your

container before you put it in the freezer--note the contents and date you put

it in the freezer, if nothing else.  That will be a good reminder to use up the

food you have frozen and it won't go to waste.  Even the best-prepared foods CAN

get freezer-burnt and get a yuckky taste/smell if they are left too long in the

freezer.  Using a label with a date on it is a good reminder to get in there and

USE what you froze up!

 

      I wish you good cooking, freezing, and EATING!

 

--Laura B;, in Illinois

 

PS: Contrary to what some people may think, cooling, refrigerating and then

freezing food is a safer way to handle ANY food.  On one group I am on, it was

mentioned that vegetarian food doesn't have to be safe-guarded from " spoilage "

as much as meat-based foods do.

 

     That is not true.  While there are some forms of bacterial spoilage that

are more common with animal-based foods, plant-based foods DO run a

risk--anything bland, starchy and dense in texture ( " thick, creamy, or in large

pieces) CAN get bacterial growth.  Potatoes, cooked beans, and, (especially)

cooked RICE.  Rice is one of those " very prone to bacterial growth " , BTW.  So,

handle foods carefully--chill them to about 70 degrees from piping hot, then

refrigerate to about 40 degrees (internal temp of the food, not just the

surface) and THEN, package up and freeze them.  Keep them frozen, and if they

thaw out, cook and USE them.  (Sorry to be up on a soap-box; I just don't want

anyone to think it can't happen and then get sick!)

--L.B.

 

 

 

 

 

 Crockpot food storing

    Posted by: " novemeberbabyboy1 " novemeberbabyboy1 novemeberbabyboy1

    Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:07 am ((PDT))

 

I am picking up a crockpot today, this is my first time owning and

using one. I printed alot of the crockpot recipes in the files. I am

very eager to learn how to make them. My question is that I want to

make enough where I can freeze it for another time, to cut down on

haveing to cook all the time with my busy schedule. How do you freeze

the food such as what containers, also how do you prevent freezer bite.

Thanks

julie