Safe freezing and cooking from the freezer
A well-stocked freezer can be a busy parent's best friend. Whether you've made extra fishcakes, croquettes, muffins or a family casserole, freezing homemade meals means you always have something nutritious ready to go.
Here at Tiny Feast Co., we're big believers in cook once, eat twice (or even three times!).
Cool food quickly before freezing
Always allow cooked food to cool as quickly as possible before freezing. Aim to refrigerate and freeze it within two hours of cooking, rather than leaving it on the worktop for long periods.
Freeze in portions
Freeze meals in individual portions whenever you can. This means you only need to defrost or cook what you'll use, helping to reduce waste.
For baby meals, silicone trays, small pots or muffin tins are perfect for creating ready-sized portions.
Freeze items separately first
For foods like:
- Croquettes
- Fishcakes
- Fritters
- Muffins
- Meatballs
Place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper until frozen solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. This stops everything sticking together and means you can take out exactly what you need.
Label everything
It sounds simple, but you'll thank yourself later.
Write:
- What it is
- The date it was frozen
Homemade meals are generally best enjoyed within around three months for the best quality, although many remain safe for longer if kept continuously frozen.
Can you cook from frozen?
Many foods can be cooked straight from frozen, making life much easier.
These include:
- Croquettes
- Fishcakes
- Vegetable fritters
- Muffins (gently warmed before serving)
- Homemade burgers
- Meatballs
Simply allow a little extra cooking time and make sure they're piping hot all the way through before serving.
For babies and young children, allow food to cool to a safe eating temperature before offering it.
Defrosting safely
The safest way to defrost food is overnight in the fridge.
If you're short on time, you can use the defrost setting on a microwave, but cook the food immediately afterwards.
Avoid defrosting food at room temperature for long periods, as bacteria can multiply while the outside warms up.
Can you refreeze food?
You shouldn't refreeze food that has been fully defrosted unless you've cooked it again first.
For example:
- Frozen raw mince → cooked into a cottage pie → can then be frozen again.
- Frozen cooked chilli → defrosted and eaten → don't refreeze the leftovers unless they've been reheated thoroughly and then cooled quickly before freezing again.
Tiny Feast Co. Top Tip
Whenever I'm making a family meal, I try to double the recipe if I have space in the freezer. Future me is always grateful on those busy days when there's no time to cook from scratch. A freezer full of homemade meals makes family mealtimes so much less stressful.
