Serves: 5
As long as your freezer maintains a steady temperature of 0°F., food can be safely frozen indefinitely. Quality, however, will eventually deteriorate. The "maximum suggested freezing time" below estimates how long frozen foods will retain quality.
Food:
Breads
What can I freeze?:
Yeast breads, coffee cakes, muffins and quick breads can be frozen.
Tips for freezing:
Cool completely. Do not frost or decorate. Place coffee cakes on foil-wrapped cardboard before wrapping.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
Up to 12 months
To thaw and serve:
Unwrap slightly, thaw at room temperature 2 to 3 hours. Serve at room temperature or reheat, wrapped in foil, at 350°F. for 15 to 20 minutes, or wrap in paper towels and microwave (briefly, to avoid a tough texture) for 5 to 40 seconds.
Food:
Cakes
What can I freeze?:
Cakes can be frozen either frosted or unfrosted. Not recommended for freezing are egg-white frostings or custard fillings.
Tips for freezing:
Cool unfrosted cake completely. Place frosted cake in freezer to harden frosting before wrapping. Buttercream frosting freezes best. Place layer cakes in cake containers or bakery boxes to prevent crushing. Over-wrap box. Angel and sponge cakes are best left in pan or place in rigid container to avoid crushing. Cakes can be filled or frosted with whipped cream or whipped topping before freezing.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
Unfrosted: 4 to 6 months
Frosted: 1 to 3 months
To thaw and serve:
Unfrosted: Thaw at room temperature, covered, 2 to 3 hours. Frost or serve according to recipe.
Frosted: Thaw, loosely covered, overnight in refrigerator.
Food:
Candies
What can I freeze?:
Most kinds freeze well.
Tips for freezing:
Prepare and allow to set. Package and freeze.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
12 months
To thaw and serve:
Thaw wrapped at room temperature 1 to 2 hours.
Food:
Casseroles, chilies, soups, spaghetti, stews
What can I freeze?:
Most mixtures freeze well.
Tips for freezing:
Those with condensed soup base or low-fat sauce freeze best. If sour cream is to be added, add after thawing and reheating. Cook meats, vegetables and pasta or rice until just tender to avoid overcooking during reheating. Package in meal-sized amounts and, if possible, in freezer-to-oven dishes wrap tightly.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
3 months
In sauce or gravy: 6 months
To thaw and serve:
Thaw in refrigerator before heating or heat unthawed. To thaw and heat a casserole of 4 to 6 servings, cover and heat at 375°F. for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. If mixture cannot be stirred, bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours. For a crisp top, remove cover last 15 minutes. Or thaw in saucepan over low heat about 20 minutes, or in double boiler over simmering water about 45 minutes. For microwave reheating, follow manufacturer's guidelines.
Food:
Cheesecakes
What can I freeze?:
Baked or unbaked.
Tips for freezing:
If baked, cool completely and wrap.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
4 to 5 months
To thaw and serve:
Thaw wrapped in refrigerator 4 to 6 hours.
Food:
Cookies
What can I freeze?:
Most baked cookies. Some doughs can be formed into rolls for slicing or dropped and frozen before packaging for baking later.
Tips for freezing:
Package cookies in airtight, moistureproof wrap or containers. If frosted or decorated before freezing, freeze on cookie sheet then package frozen cookies between layers of waxed paper in rigid container with outer wrap for further freezing.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
Unfrosted: up to 12 months
Frosted: 1 to 2 months
To thaw and serve:
Thaw in package at room temperature. Remove from container cookies that should be crisp when thawed.
Food:
Crepes, waffles, pancakes or French toast
What can I freeze?:
Cooked according to recipe.
Tips for freezing:
Cool completely, separating pieces with waxed paper. Wrap in airtight, moistureproof, resealable wrap.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
2 months
To thaw and serve:
Thaw and heat waffles and French toast in toaster. Thaw and heat pancakes and French toast, uncovered, at 350°F. about 15 minutes.Thaw and heat crepes, uncovered, at 350°F. about 20 minutes or microwave one portion 25 seconds or less in a single layer on paper towels or paper plate.
Food:
Meat or poultry, cooked
What can I freeze?:
Most freeze well.
Tips for freezing:
Prepare as for serving. Cool quickly wrap tightly. Gravies, broths or sauces help prevent drying and retain flavor.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
Without broth: 1 to 3 months With broth: 6 months
To thaw and serve:
Leave wrapped and thaw in refrigerator about 8 hours. Meats with sauces can be thawed over low heat in a saucepan or in 350°F. oven in a covered casserole, about 45 minutes. For microwave reheating, follow manufacturer's guidelines.
Food:
Pies
What can I freeze?:
Baked pumpkin or pecan pies. Fruit pies either baked or unbaked.
Tips for freezing:
Cool baked pies quickly. For unbaked pies, brush bottom crust with egg whites before filling to prevent sogginess do not slit top crust. Cover with inverted plate, (foil or paper), then wrap.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
Baked: 3 to 4 months
Unbaked: 2 to 3 months
To thaw and serve:
Baked: Heat, unwrapped, in oven at 325°F. for 45 minutes or until warm or room temperature.
Unbaked: Unwrap, cut slits in top crust and bake at 425°F. for 15 minutes, then at 375°F. for 30 to 45 minutes or until center is bubbly.
Food:
Pies
What can I freeze?:
Chiffon pies. Not recommended are custard and cream pies or meringue toppings.
Tips for freezing:
Omit any whipped topping. Refrigerate to set. Wrap as directed for fruit pies.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
1 to 2 months
To thaw and serve:
Unwrap, thaw in refrigerator 2 to 3 hours. Top as desired.
Food:
Sandwiches
What can I freeze?:
Use cooked meats, poultry, tuna, salmon, peanut butter or cheese. Use cream cheese, margarine or butter for spread.
Tips for freezing:
Package individually.
Maximum suggested freezing time:
Up to 1 month
To thaw and serve:
Thaw wrapped sandwich at room temperature about 3 hours.
This Storing Foods in the Freezer recipe is from the Cook'n with Pillsbury Cookbook. Download this Cookbook today.
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