Need some help.

[monique2]

My son will be having his second bone surgery on the 17th. He is the cook at home. His wife does not cook. I would like to prepare some casseroles that can be frozen so when he gets home all it needs to be done is popped in the oven or microwave. He won't be able to cook for almost a month. I need recipes too.

What is the best way to freeze them and in what.

Thank you all.

Forgot to mention two adults and a 4 yr old

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I learned a great tip about freezing meals many years ago and it really works.

Decide which baking dish you will be reheating the meal in and line it with a generous amount of aluminum foil. Assemble the casserole so it's ready for baking, wrap the rest of the foil around it and freeze. When it is frozen solid, use the foil to lift it out of the baking dish and wrap with plastic or freezer paper, label it with contents, date prepared and thawing/reheating instructions and store in the freezer. When you are ready to prepare the meal simply remove it from the freezer, take off the plastic or paper wrap and put it back in the dish you froze it in while still wrapped in the foil. After the meal, pull the foil out of the dish and discard or rewrap the leftovers. Your baking dish stays clean and it's not tied up in the freezer.

[cbayer]

2. When I had a regular freezer, I used tupperware type containers, but....

I have a teeny freezer now, so tend to put things like this is ziploc bags. You can freeze them first, then transfer to a bag. You can write on them as well.

I had a cookbook for once a month cooking at one time. Basically you prep for everything, make large amounts of sauces and casseroles, then label them for easy assembling. Each recipe came with ideas for easy side dishes (salads or fresh veggies).

It also laid out all the freezer storage guidelines for each meal. There are several books about this, as well as a number of websites.

Best of luck to your son and good for you for pitching in!

[pinto]

3. Maybe make a casserole, portion out a meal for 3 and freeze. I like small aluminum loaf pans.

Covered tight with aluminum foil, they can be set in the oven and reheated. Or freezer bags, they can be microwaved.

(side idea) Some single, small servings might be good for your son to have on hand. For a quick bite if his appetite fluctuates.

Here's a link to a bunch of casserole ideas. I'm sure there are many more on the net.

http://thefrugalchef.com/category/frugal-salads-soups-casseroles-sandwiches-side-dishes-recipe-video/simple-casseroles/

Take care.

[Warpy]

4. The best way to freeze casseroles is in plastic or glass

with tight fitting lids. Foil over a bowl will work, but you'll start to see freezer burn (dehydration, really) within a week. Things frozen in plastic should be nukable with no crust on top. If it needs to be defrosted and baked, with crunchy stuff on top, use glass.

Things like meatloaf can be wrapped tightly in foil.

And let them know that if they get desperate, the freezer case can produce some very nice things--salty, but nice.

[csziggy]

5. You can get oven proof paper "casseroles"

My husband found some when I asked him to get something for me to take food to holiday parties. He found them at the local supermarket for about $1 each (or maybe $1 for a package of two). The containers are about 8" square with a pop on plastic lid. I wouldn't trust those lids for freezer use - they are not air tight and do not really stay on well. The supplied lids are domed so they would be good to put over a small frosted cake.

The things are Hefty brand 2 quart casserole pans, safe for oven & microwave. They do say "Always use cookie sheet", which would be needed to support the paper container.

They would be perfect to put various recipes into, freeze and then give without worry on your part or your son's family's part about returning a casserole dish.