Sharing my favorite ways to avoid plastic in the freezer! With a few helpful products and strategies, you can drastically reduce your dependency on single-use products.
It's been awhile since I shared 5 Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste in the Kitchen and I'm back today, sharing my solutions to one of my biggest problem areas: the freezer.
Freezer meals. Love the convenience. Hate the waste they generate! From disposable freezer bags to disposable foil trays, to plastic wrap, there just seem to be few options for freezing your meals that don't generate waste.
I've been searching high and low for some eco-friendly products that will reduce the need for plastic and foil.
I still have some problem areas that I hope to tackle soon, namely: crockpot freezer meals (which require sturdy 1 gallon bags), and plastic wrap (for freezer burritos etc).
But for now, I'm going to share some tricks and equipment that I've been loving so far!
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Watch the video below for a sneak peek into my freezer. I'm sharing my plastic-free storage methods, staples I pick up each week and more! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.
1. Jars
For a long time I was so scared to freeze liquids in jars, but I decided to just go for it. I've frozen bone broth, turkey stock, soups, hummus and chickpeas in glass jars and haven't had a single issue so far.
What I love about jars is they can store easily on the door of my freezer, and you can see through them so it's easy to know exactly what you have.
How to freeze liquids in jars:
- fill the jars no more than ¾ full
- cool liquids completely before freezing
- leave the jar lids ajar until they are frozen solid
- tighten the lids, then freeze for up to 3 months
*make sure you use canning jars when freezing, as old pasta sauce jars etc may not be sturdy enough to withstand freeze/thawing
My favorite jars for freezing
- quart-sized jars
(bone broth, soups) - pint-sized jars (hummus, chickpeas, single-serve soups, apple sauce and more)
- ½ pint jars (for stir fry sauce and other sauces)
- I also love these reusable labels
(bone broth, soups)
(hummus, chickpeas, single-serve soups, apple sauce and more)
(for stir fry sauce and other sauces)
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2. Reusable silicone bags
OBSESSED. I am completely obsessed with reusable silicone bags.
They are SO handy and have reduced my dependency on plastic bags for pretty much everything except for crockpot freezer meals, which require such a large volume bag. I am hoping these companies come out with some gallon-sized options because my freezer waste would be so drastically reduced!
I use my reusable silicone bags to freeze:
- fruit & vegetables (find my fruit-freezing guide here!)
- chicken breast portions (or in marinades)
- salmon fillets (see how I freeze them here)
- granola bars & no bake energy bites
- and so so many more items!
The best thing about the reusable silicone bags that I use is that you can turn them inside out and wash on the top rack of your dishwasher! SO so easy!
My favorite silicone freezer bags
*note that these bags may be hard to shut initially but as you use them, they loosen and are so much easier to use!
- these 1 L bags (lovvvvve these, the lids can be stiff at first but loosen up after a few uses)
- these 1.5L bags (warning, the lids are quite stiff on these ones. They are starting to loosen for me after about 6 months of use, but they are not air tight and are not suitable for liquids)
(lovvvvve these, the lids can be stiff at first but loosen up after a few uses)
(warning, the lids are quite stiff on these ones. They are starting to loosen for me after about 6 months of use, but they are not air tight and are not suitable for liquids)
3. Glass meal prep containers
Have you checked out my freezer lunch stash? It's pretty epic at the moment! I portion out cooked meals with rice and freeze in my 2 Cup Glass Meal Prep Containers from Snapware. I have also frozen some meals in my 2-Compartment PrepNaturals Meal Prep Containers with no issues.
How to freeze meals in glass meal prep containers:
- cool completely before snapping lids on
- freeze!
- thaw overnight in the fridge or immerse in warm water for a few hours if you're in a rush
- heat thoroughly in the microwave
I also freeze muffins, quinoa bites, and more in my 6 cup glass storage containers. Do they get a bit of freezer burn without being individually wrapped in plastic? Yes. But it does not alter the flavor unless they are in there for a LONG time. We eat within a month.
My favorite glass meal prep containers
- I love these 2 Cup Glass Containers
- these 2 Compartment Glass Containers are pretty good too
- for muffins etc I use these 6 Cup Glass Storage Containers
are pretty good too
4. Metal baking dishes
When it comes to casseroles, I hurts my heart to use a disposable foil tray once and toss it in the trash. Instead, I invested in several 9x9 inch metal baking pans, and use them to freeze lasagnas, pasta bakes, and more.
When it comes to covering in the freezer, I do use foil because it really does protect the food efficiently from freezer burn. However I try to reuse the foil multiple times before recycling. My method is not perfected yet, so I hope to find a better solution soon!
The metal baking dish I use
Those are my four favorite plastic-free freezer storage options!
I have been making small swaps to get rid of plastic for years now...and these are just some ideas. We are all on our own journeys and these may or may not work for you and your lifestyle.
Please let me know if you have any plastic-free storage options that you love for the fridge or freezer, as I'm always looking for more ideas!
Cristina says
Most of these tips don't really work for me because I don't really have the space for them. For now I am using plastic bags but after when I am done with the bag. I clean them and then reuse them. Even though thay are plastic. I am reducing the amount that goes in the garbage. I haven't had to buy more bag in two years now.
Reet says
G'day & greetings from down under, this is a wonderful post. I've been trying to do as you do in not using plastic wrap/foil wrap, or at least using them as sparingly as possible. I use a lot of lock n lock containers, yes they are plastic but they are the best I've come across. I have about a 100 pieces from 4ltr boxes for rice & flour to 100ml sizes for small portions of tomato paste. I also have glass lock n lock made with borosilicate glass which can go from freezer to oven. They do have plastic lids which of course have to be removed when they go into the oven, but as i said above I'm trying to keep the use of both wraps to a bare minimum.
I also bought a few of the silicone bags from K-mart. There are 2 in s pack for $4 australian dollars, so they may be cheaper in the US. They are extremely sturdy & strong, & are brilliant for for everything, in the summer i use them as ice packs in picnic badkets.
With kindest tegards
Reet
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Reet, thank you so much for taking the time to leave all your tips. We're so glad that you enjoyed this post AND that you're cutting down on plastic use too. It's challenging isn't it? Hopefully found some inspiration here!
Tanya Masters says
Any suggestions on freezing cooked meat pies? I want to a wood zip locks and vacuum sealing in plastic but worried about freezer burn.
Denise Bustard says
Hi Tanya! My husband used to freeze chicken pot pie right in the pie plate. He covered with one layer of plastic and one of aluminum foil. I do believe the bottom crust was fairly soggy...I wish I could be of more help!
Karey says
I've been happy reusing the sturdy plastic bags that come with dry goods I can't get in bulk: goji berries, cacao nibs, maca powder etc. I have a list on my phone of which contains what, as a label would get lost in all the colorful designs! They wash well, usually have expandable bottoms, so dry quickly over a faucer handle or cup.
Cheryl Bald says
I use waxed paper for singly wrapping things like burritos and egg muffins for the freezer. Each is individually wrapped and then I pop them into one of the large Stasher bags.
Denise Bustard says
Hi Cheryl! Great tip, thanks for sharing 🙂
Francesca Greenoak says
I do the same. It's a bit fiddly but it works and the greaseproof paper can go on the compost heap
Jessica Leigh says
Thanks for this. I'm preparing to try my first "freezer meals for a month in one day!" cookfest. One of the major reasons is that I figure it will be less wasteful than buying prepared (grocery or takeout) food, as well as meal kit services (so many plastic bags!) But then all the blogs that do this use disposable lasagna pans and Ziploc bags! We reuse ziplocs many times, but still...
I'm concerned about the foil, though. Sustainability is a concern, but I also want covers that will hold the weight of other glass dishes on top. There used to be glass lasagna pans and round casseroles that came with plastic freezer lids, but they seem scarce now. My current plan is silicone covers (Walmart has them) and maybe buy some cookie sheets to put on top?
Denise says
Hi Jessica! So for covering casseroles, I wish I had a better solution. What I do is use the same piece of foil over and over...probably 5 times per piece of foil. When I go to bake, I take the foil off and store for later. I use the silicone lids because any cheese or casserole goodness will get on them. I love how many innovative products we are seeing come on the market these days and I bet we will see some better foil replacements in the next few years! Hope this helps!
Sarah says
Hi, enjoyed reading your post. I’m a meat seller and am trying to find plastic-free ways of selling our goat meat. At the moment I vacuum pack them - a lot of it ends up in the freezer as we only send if animals once a month. I tried in trays but the air meant they did get freezer burn- any ideas greatly appreciated.
Denise says
Hi Sarah! Oh I wish I knew! I purchase meat from local farmers and it comes frozen and vacuum sealed. I don't know if there's any way around it, to keep the meat as fresh as possible. I hope that some innovations come our way soon. I bet there will be some, as the focus on reducing plastic waste seems to be the way many people are shifting these days.
Pauline says
I know this is super old, but one thing I've noticed with my bulk frozen chicken from Costco is that they spray a fine layer of water on it as it freezes, creating a "seal" against freezer burn that is plastic-free and doesn't affect the cooking process. I've heard of other ZW kitchens using water to cover their meats as well, I just can't figure out how to do it myself without the result being a block of ice with meat somewhere in it!
Odin says
Hi Pauline. Hoping you figured out a way to do this already, but just off the top of my head maybe this might work: have your chicken cutlets or meat of choice on a sheet in the freezer and regularly (this would likely need some finessing to get the timing right) spray them with water using a spray bottle, making sure to flip and just spray them down as quickly as possible to avoid having the freezer door open for long.
Ayla says
I’ve just ordered some butcher paper for my freezer burritos. I’ve read that it stands up really well in the freezer. Can’t wait to try it out!
Denise says
Oooh please keep me posted!
Erica says
I just found gallon size silicone bags! Very excited, and hoping they work well. https://packagefreeshop.com/products/silicone-half-gallon-bag
Denise says
Ooh thank you for sharing! Running off to check them out!
Susan Cohen says
Do they work with liquids like spaghetti sauce with meatballs?
Erica says
I've just ordered some, so not sure yet, but I'm hoping so. The other sizes I've used from that brand are sturdy, so fingers crossed.
Sue says
I was just checking those bags out and wondered if you had used them yet. If so, what did you think? Thanks!
Erica says
I'm a fan! So far they've held up well with liquids and in the freezer, although the top gets a little sticky to open once they've been in the freezer for a while. Overall they work for me!
Cheryl Bald says
Those look like Stasher brand silicone bags. If you sign up for emails at their website they do have sales on occasion.