An Simple Technique to Present Do-it-yourself Freezer Meals

Meals is a big manner I present my love. It has grown unintentionally over time, however with each household dinner made, I hope my household feels a hug. Tacky? Completely, however that’s how I roll. That extends into making meals for others, too. I like internet hosting and feeding individuals. And I like gifting meals when it may be useful. I’ve shared my favourite meals to deliver to a brand new mother, however there are different instances the place gifting meals is sensible and generally giant, family-sized parts aren’t wanted.

I’ve a member of the family who lately had surgical procedure, and I wished to ship them some love within the type of do-it-yourself meals in a manner that might even be simple and handy throughout restoration.

Enter Souper Cubes.

You already know my affection for this easy but good invention runs deep. They’re nice for meal prepping, storing leftovers, and maximizing freezer house. It seems they’re additionally fairly implausible for gifting meals, too.

One factor I all the time take into consideration when bringing somebody meals is the right way to make it genuinely useful. Are lots of people dropping off meals on the similar time? How massive of a portion do they really want? How can I make the reward helpful with out creating additional work?

Disposable containers are an amazing choice as a result of nothing must be washed or returned. However I’ve found that Souper Cubes supply one other actually handy resolution!

On this case, I made the meals, froze them in 2 cup parts, then gifted the frozen cubes (popped out of the silicone molds and transferred to gallon Ziplocks) together with the Souper Cubes stoneware to allow them to warmth and eat one serving each time they want it with out a big casserole taking on half the fridge and no strain to eat the whole lot inside just a few days.

For this meal state of affairs, I made a Hen, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole and Shepherd’s Pie.

I absolutely baked the rooster casserole, then scooped it into the Souper Dice molds and froze it in particular person parts.

For the Shepherd’s pie, I cooked the meat combination and made the mashed potatoes, however as an alternative of baking the whole lot collectively first, I spooned the meat combination into the cubes, topped every one with mashed potatoes, and froze them that manner. They need to bake collectively properly when reheated.

Different Meals That Freeze Effectively in Particular person Parts

I’ve completed this earlier than with spaghetti and meat sauce and lasagna roll ups (this recipe however made into roll-ups as an alternative of shells) and now am brainstorming different meals that this may work nicely for. I can’t attest to the next however really feel like they’d all work fairly nicely in this sort of freeze and reheat arrange:

• Lasagna or baked ziti
• Enchiladas
• Chili
• Soups and stews
• Taco meat or shredded rooster
• Breakfast casseroles
• Macaroni and cheese
• Pulled pork or shredded beef
• Curry and rice

I particularly like this technique for conditions the place somebody might need a smaller urge for food or when members of the family aren’t essentially consuming on the similar time or when you’re making meals for a person or couple as an alternative of a multi-person household. As an alternative of reheating an entire pan of meals, they’ll seize precisely what they want.

How one can Reheat Frozen Souper Dice Meals

I wrote reheating directions on the Ziplocks with the meals inside to make it simple to know the right way to reheat when prepared.

For many casserole-style meals, the advisable technique is transferring a frozen portion to the baking dish and letting it thaw within the fridge in a single day. Then cowl and bake at 350°F till scorching all through, normally round 25 to 35 minutes relying on the meal. Uncovering it for the ultimate jiffy helps crisp up the highest.

Buuuuut, let’s be sincere. I really feel just like the extra possible state of affairs is to warmth from frozen, which is 100% doable however simply takes just a little longer, normally nearer to 45 to 60 minutes. As a result of the timing will fluctuate relying on the meal and portion, ensure that the middle is absolutely heated. You should utilize a meat thermometer; stick it within the heart and ensure it reads 165 levels or extra.

Additionally, a tip which will or might not be apparent: when you freeze your meals within the cubes, pop them out! I had a buddy that saved shopping for extra Souper Cubes as a result of she didn’t understand you might retailer them in a Ziplock as soon as frozen. Additionally, I completely love that 4 (2c) cubes match so completely right into a gallon Ziplock. It’s like it’s meant to be.

For this supply, I snuck over and loaded the cubes into the freezer and put the stoneware dishes on the counter with just a little word and a few contemporary chocolate chip cookies, baked by Ok. As a result of cookies are all the time a very good add on; restoration for the soul in addition to the physique 😉

I figured it was price sharing as a result of it’s been such a enjoyable twist on gifting meals to family and friends and likewise labored very well for stocking your personal freezer earlier than having a child, an enormous life change, or only a busy basketball season 🙂

What’s your go-to meal to make for a buddy or member of the family in want?