Freezer containers for free

by Lili Mounce


Did you ever think that baggies are a created need? Hefty and Ziplock have us convinced that we can't store any of our food without their products. Before baggies, sandwiches were wrapped in waxed paper or butcher paper. Yes, they may have been a tad drier than if packed in plastic, but also there was no plastic off-gassing to be concerned with (yet another thing to be concerned about when it comes to your children, plastic off-gassing).

Every week when you go grocery shopping, you not only bring home food, but tons of food-grade packaging material. Why not get more uses out of this "free" packaging?  Here are some materials/containers you may have right now in your kitchen. Take a look in your pantry and fridge and just see how many containers you have that you could use, once they're empty. If it's plastic, give it consideration. You'll be surprised at just how many potential freezer containers you have.

plastic food containers

• yogurt, big and small   (the big ones are great for freezing soups and pasta sauce)
• whipped topping   (I freeze berries and chopped rhubarb in these)
• cottage cheese/sour cream/margarine containers   (great for individual servings of casseroles/soups)
• plastic peanut butter and mayo jars, with lids   (yes, you can use these for freezing, too. Lay a small piece of plastic wrap over top of filled jar, then screw on lid)
• prepared foods, such as hummus come in nice little round plastic containers   (these are my favorite for leftover pancakes, just the right size and shape)
• plastic coffee "cans"   (great for large batches of soup)
• plastic shortening (like Crisco) containers   (this is what I use for my veggie scraps for stock-making)

containers with one re-use

• small, waxed cardboard milk/cream cartons -- these are single re-use, then throw away, containers. Fill with hot soapy water, rinse well and fill. Because of potential bacteria, use clean, milk/cream cartons right away, or toss into your freezer, empty, to use later. After filling, pinch top closed, paper clip, butterfly clip, staple to hold closed. Slip into a plastic grocery bag and tie shut for greater airtight seal 

My mother-in-law showed me this. She used these filled with water and frozen, as disposable ice packs in coolers.

bags that food has come in
These bags are sometimes inside a box, sometimes just the bag used in packaging from items such as:  cereal, bread, chips, cookies, pasta, rice, produce, raisins, nuts, crackers, chocolate chips, and at holiday time - candy bags

Use scissors to cut off the top, so bag doesn't tear and become unusable.  Double or triple bag items (depending on thickness of bag), twist tie, rubber band or staple shut.

bread bags -- especially good for dividing family packs of meat
Put a lump of raw meat into the bottom of bag, tie the bag in a knot, close to the meat, add another lump if meat, tie another knot and continue until you reach the top of the bread bag. When you need some meat, cut off a portion of the bag, just above a knot.

purchased freezer bags
You can wash and reuse freezer bags. If the food it held was dry, turn inside out to keep for a few weeks in a box (until you have several to wash at once).  If the food inside was wet, turn the bag inside out, rinse and air dry, then put with the other dirty freezer bags.

how I wash my freezer bags
I have them all turned inside out, and place in my washing machine, with several dishrags/hand towels.  I add a squirt of liquid hand-washing dish detergent, and wash with hot water. I remove from washer and air dry on the kitchen counter, still inside out.